DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes he has made to No. 10 Downing street since 27 June 2007 to make it more environmentally friendly.

Phil Hope: No. 10 Downing street forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office estate.
	The Cabinet Office is committed to contribution to the goals, priorities and principles of the UK Government sustainable development strategy, "Securing the Future". We are equally committed to achieving the targets for sustainable operations on the Government estate launched by the Prime Minister in June 2006. To this end the Cabinet Office has implemented a system of environmental management and improvement, which enables us to measure and monitor our impact on the environment, commit to improvements within the set time frames and report publicly on progress.

10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent on refurbishments and improvements to No. 10 Downing street in  (a) June and  (b) July 2007.

Edward Miliband: Costs incurred on refurbishments and improvements to No. 10 Downing street in the 2007-08 financial year, will be available only when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2008 summer recess.

Auctions

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Government-approved auction houses.

Gillian Merron: The Government do not hold a list of approved auction houses. Individual departments decide upon which auction houses to use, according to their individual need.
	Information regarding Government auctions can be found at the Direct Gov website at http://www.direct. gov.uk/en/HI1/Help/YourQuestions/DG_10014697. A copy of which is also available in the Libraries of the House.

Charities: Finance

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the Government's policy is on paying foregone interest when money owed or promised to charities is delayed.

Phil Hope: Public sector organisations should: use good commercial practice in managing the flows of expenditure and commitments they deal with; settle their bills on time within contractual terms in line with The Better Payments Practice Code; and be bound by The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1988. In relation to grants, once an agreement has been made and payment schedules agreed to, public sector organisations should honour these in the same way as they would any commercial or contractual arrangements. Government departments are required to note as exceptional any interest payments in relation to late payments in their resource accounts. This is set out in the "Managing Public Money" guidance issued by HM Treasury on sound financial management of public funds.

Departments: Buildings

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the design and procurement option under consideration for the refurbishment for the heritage Cabinet Office estate.

Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the then Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong) gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2184W.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 35W, on departments: freedom of information, and the Ministry of Justice aggregated statistics, what information has been requested of his Department under the Act in the last six months.

Edward Miliband: Information relating to Freedom of Information and Environmental Information requests is published on a quarterly basis by the Ministry of Justice. Information for January to March 2007 was published on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 10WS, copies of the document are in the Libraries of the House. Information for April to June 2007 is due to be published in the autumn. It is not the Government's normal practice to disclose details of the content of such requests.

Departments: Official Hospitality

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many receptions have been held by his Department since May 2005; broken down by  (a) date,  (b) venue,  (c) purpose,  (d) host,  (e) who paid,  (f) estimated attendance and  (g) cost to his Department.

Edward Miliband: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Railways

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent by his Department on first class train tickets in the last 12 months.

Edward Miliband: This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

Emergency Services: Training

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements there are for collaboration between the Emergency Planning College and the Fire Service College for training in multi-agency response.

Edward Miliband: The types of training delivered by the Fire Service College and the Emergency Planning College reflect their differing but complementary missions. The Fire Service College focuses on specialist training at the operational (bronze), tactical (silver) and strategic (gold) levels, and over 90 per cent. of its students are from the fire and rescue service. As officers progress through the levels, they receive increasing exposure to multi-agency operations. In contrast, the Emergency Planning College's courses bring together all the many services and organisations involved in multi-agency working at the strategic (gold) level in large-scale emergencies, including non-blue light scenarios such as influenza. As a result, fire and rescue service students comprise less than 10 per cent. of the Emergency Planning College's intake.
	In order to maximise the UK's resilience to emergencies the Emergency Planning College and Fire Service College collaborate to ensure that their training programmes are consistent with their responsibilities, meet their respective customers' requirements and achieve synergy. The overall co-ordination is effected through periodic meetings at senior and middle management levels of the major providers of multi-agency training, including the Fire Service and Emergency Planning Colleges and the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Minister for the Olympics and for London

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total estimated annual cost is of  (a) expenses,  (b) salary,  (c) office space,  (d) administrative support and  (e) special advisers for the Minister for the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	The cost of Cabinet Office Ministers' offices will be accounted for in the Department's annual report and accounts for 2007-08 when accounts have been finalised. A list of special advisers by Department and pay band will be published in due course. Details of ministerial salaries are available in the House Library and at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/parliamentary/pay/ministerial/index.asp

Non-Profit Making Associations

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what record has been kept of charities and social enterprises launched as part of Government initiatives since 1997.

Phil Hope: No central record is kept of the number of the number of charities or social enterprises launched as part of Government initiatives.
	Where an independent charity or social enterprise is launched as part of a Government initiative, the relevant Government department would maintain formal records. The Office of the Third Sector keeps both electronic and paper records of the initiatives it has launched.

Non-Profit Making Associations: Grants

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much grant funding was given to third sector organisations by  (a) the Active Community Directors' and  (b) the Social Enterprise Unit in each year of their operation.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) was created from the Active Communities Directorate (ACD) of the Home Office and the Social Enterprise Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as a machinery of government change in May 2006.
	Audited information on expenditure by the ACD in the Home Office and the Social Enterprise Unit in the DTI is not available separately. Recorded grant funding by the ACD, based on internal outturn data of grants paid to the sector in each financial year was as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1998-99 11,269,348 
			 1999-2000 15,705,645 
			 2000-01 18,894,849 
			 2001-02 28,146,399 
			 2002-03 44,119,332 
			 2003-04 63,767,427 
			 2004-05 107,780,463 
			 2005-06 154,824,807 
		
	
	The Social Enterprise made a small number of grants during its lifetime totalling less than £1 million between its creation in October 2001 and the transfer of funding to the Office of the Third Sector in May 2006.
	Details of the transfer of grants in 2006-07 from the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry to the Cabinet Office are published in the Central Government Supply Estimates (2006-07), Winter Supplementary Estimates and New Estimates HC 2 and in the Central Government Supply Estimates (2006-07), Spring Supplementary Estimates HC 293.

Office of the Third Sector

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the purpose is of the review of the Office of the Third Sector; and how long it is planned to take.

Phil Hope: The purpose of the review was to examine the structure and skills set in the Office of the Third Sector.
	The review process ran from January to April 2007. This was implemented and the new structure came into effect on 4 June 2007.

Office of the Third Sector

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the results of the review of the Office of the Third Sector will be made publicly available.

Phil Hope: The review considered the structure and skills set of the Office of the Third Sector. The result of this review is the new structure that came into effect on 4 June 2007. An overview of this structure is publicly available on the Office of the Third sector website: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

Terrorism: Memorial Day

David Chaytor: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans she has to promote and contribute towards the European Union's Memorial Day for the victims of terrorism, in 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Plans are still being developed at the EU for the 2008 European Union's Memorial Day for the victims of terrorism, it is therefore too early to give details of any contribution. However, as in previous years, we will make information available to the 2008 Memorial Day through appropriate mechanisms such as the 7 July Assistance Centre Newsletter.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report on variable charging for domestic rubbish collection.

Edward Miliband: The Strategy Unit has not published a specific report on variable charging for domestic rubbish collection. Its report "Waste Not, Want Not", published in November 2002, looked at how we manage waste overall in England and considered a range of financial incentives to encourage householders to reduce and recycle more waste, including variable charging. The Government are currently consulting on proposals to allow authorities to introduce local variable waste charging following publication of the Waste Strategy 2007.
	The Strategy Unit's "Waste Not, Want Not", report is available at
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/work_areas/waste/index.asp.
	The Waste Strategy for England 2007 is available at
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/index.htm.

WALES

Brofiscan Quarry

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the polluting of Brofiscan Quarry in South Wales.

Peter Hain: I have received two approaches on the subject, both of which I referred to the Welsh Assembly Government, which now has oversight of environmental regulation in Wales.

Brofiscan Quarry

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who will be liable for the cost of the damage caused by the polluting of Brofiscan Quarry in South Wales.

Peter Hain: I understand that the Environment Agency is currently investigating the matter of responsibility for remediation costs, and is in contact with several companies and individuals.

Brofiscan Quarry

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the cost of the damage caused by the polluting of Brofiscan Quarry in South Wales.

Peter Hain: None. However, a preliminary appraisal has been undertaken by the Environment Agency. I understand that the full remediation options cannot be finalised until all current inspection work is completed.

Departments: Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales to which periodicals his Department subscribes.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
	Dod's Companions, including National Assembly for Wales companion,
	Vacher's Quarterly,
	Economist,
	The Spectator,
	Tribune,
	New Statesman,
	Prospect,
	Whitehall and Westminster World,
	Private Eye,
	Golwg,
	Y Cymro, and
	Welsh Farmer

SCOTLAND

Departments: Taxis

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by his Department on taxis in the last 12 months.

David Cairns: In 2006-07, the Scotland Office spent £9,421 on taxis. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Civil Service Management Code" and the "Ministerial Code".

Elections

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place since the Scottish Parliamentary elections in May between the Secretary of State and returning officers on the process of auto-adjudication used during the counting process.

David Cairns: holding answer 10 September 2007
	None. The decision on the content of the user agreement in relation to how the system dealt with ballot papers, including auto-adjudication, was the responsibility of returning officers and the e-counting provider. The Scotland Office did not take any decisions on the inclusion of auto-adjudication. These matters will come within the scope of the independent review of the recent Scottish elections led by Mr. Ron Gould.

Historic Scotland: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press officers are employed by Historic Scotland.

David Cairns: This is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive and Historic Scotland.

Holyrood Parliament Building

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the construction costs of the Scottish Parliament building was provided from central Government funding.

David Cairns: The construction costs of the Scottish Parliament is a devolved matter.
	The devolved administration and legislature in Scotland are funded through the Scottish block grant. This is paid for through general UK taxation and voted on by the UK Parliament. The costs of the Scottish Parliament building are met from within the block grant.

Voting Methods

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Government's review of the experience of new voting systems will take account of information to be reported by the current Electoral Commission's review chaired by Ron Gould of the recent Scottish elections.

David Cairns: Yes.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ACP and Developing Countries: Common Sugar Regime

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations his Department has received from African, Pacific and Caribbean countries on implementation of the reform of the Common Agricultural Sugar Policy.

Gareth Thomas: DFID Ministers and officials have had a productive and ongoing dialogue with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries on the issue of European Union (EU) sugar reforms. This has included meetings and correspondence and has covered the depth and pace of the reforms, the amount and allocation of transitional assistance and the implications for sugar of the EU's duty and quota free market access offer under the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA's).
	Most recent communication between DFID and the ACP countries has been about the European Commission's proposal to terminate the sugar protocol (SP). A number of ACP countries have been concerned about the impacts of the ending of the protocol. However, it is a logical consequence of the EU internal sugar market reforms and the offer of duty and quota free market access as part of the EPAs.
	We consider that the Commission's market access offer, on 4 April 2007 will provide, over time, real opportunities for ACP sugar exporters to expand exports to the EU.

ACP and Developing Countries: Common Sugar Regime

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effect on sugar producers in developing countries of the implementation of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy sugar regime.

Gareth Thomas: In 2003 the European Commission undertook an impact assessment of the proposed reform of the European Union (EU) internal sugar market (this was formally adopted by the Agricultural Council in February 2006). In May 2006 DEFRA undertook a comprehensive regulatory impact assessment of the reform. This assessment looked at the potential impact of the reform on all stakeholders including African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries that supply sugar to the EU market under a preferential trade agreement. In addition DFID has commissioned a number of independent studies looking at the impacts of the reform on the sugar industry in developing countries, with particular emphasis on the least developed countries (LDC's).
	The assessments and studies all suggest that the reform will present challenges for the ACP countries who will see the value of their preference decline. They also show that the reform will provide impetus for some of the ACP countries to move their economies away from large scale dependency on sugar and thereby provide long term economic benefit in the form of efficiency gains. However the assessment also suggests the ACP countries will need financial assistance to help them diversify their economies and adapt to the reforms.
	In response to these assessments DFID successfully lobbied the Commission to provide transitional assistance for the ACP countries. As a result of the lobbying the EU has earmarked around €1.244 billion between 2007 and 2013. Allocation of these funds is based on a national Sugar Action Plan submitted independently by the ACP countries. DFID has provided technical and financial support to a number of ACP countries to draw up their individual plans.

Departments: Public Private Partnerships

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department provided to the public-private infrastructure advisory facility in each year since its inception.

Shahid Malik: DFID has supported the public private infrastructure advisory facility (PPIAF) over three phases since its inception in 1999. Our total commitment to PPIAF from 1999 to 2008 is £53.3 million, broken down annually as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1998-99 1,450,000 
			 1999-2000 3,200,000 
			 2000-01 5,895,287 
			 2001-02 3,598,848 
			 2002-03 8,209,761 
			 2003-04 7,179,905 
			 2004-05 6,525,733 
			 2005-06 2,804,781 
			 2006-07 7,487,555

International Assistance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to establish the first global roster for education in emergencies since the announcement of its establishment on 5 April.

Shahid Malik: At a UK-chaired donor/agencies meeting on 22 May 2007 in Geneva, UNICEF and the Save the Children Alliance (SCA), the lead agencies for education in emergencies, confirmed that establishing a global roster of education experts was the priority in a programme of measures they are leading to build the capacity of UN and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). DFID has discussed follow up on this with UNICEF and the SCA, and is monitoring progress closely.
	DFID has also provided UNICEF with £4 million per year over four years to support their role in responding to emergencies. This includes building education response capacity through the Education Cluster Support Unit.

International Assistance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the £20 million funding announced on 5 April for activities in emergency and post-crisis countries over the next four to five years will be used to fund the first global roster for education in emergencies.

Shahid Malik: The programme of work to be covered by the £20 million announced on 5 April is currently being discussed by DFID and UNICEF. It has not yet been finalised.

North Korea

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: We assessed the humanitarian situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the end of August, in response to the flooding there. As a result of the assessment, DFID has contributed up to £700,000 in response to the Flash Appeal issued by the United Nations on 27 August. £650,000 has gone to programmes under way and being implemented by Save the Children UK and the World Food Programme. We have also offered support to the UN if required to assist with coordinating the relief effort, which is estimated to last a further three months.

North Korea: Non-Governmental Organisations

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions his Department has had with AIDCO and ECHO on support for the work of non-governmental organisations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Shahid Malik: The most recent discussion DFID officials have had with the Commission was on 13 September in Brussels.
	The Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) will close its programmes in North Korea in May 2008. This is primarily because the North Korean Government requested its donors to end humanitarian aid for the first time in August 2004 and then enforced it in August 2005.
	AidCo will now assume the lead on the EU assistance programme, and they plan to allocate a total of €35 million between 2007 and 2010, including €8 million in 2007, largely concentrating on food security. Non-governmental organisations in Pyongyang (and possibly others not currently based in the country) will be bidding for a share of the €8 million. AidCo will take over responsibility from ECHO for the NGOs operating in North Korea.

Overseas Aid

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department channelled through the  (a) World Bank,  (b) International Monetary Fund,  (c) United Nations and  (d) World Trade Organisation in each of the last 10 years.

Gareth Thomas: Data on DFID's multilateral assistance to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and United Nations over the last 10 years are set out in the following table. The World Trade Organisation does not act as a donor but as a forum for trade negotiations and therefore no funding is channelled through it. These figures do not include the element of the DFID bilateral programme channelled through the listed multilateral organisations.
	
		
			  DFID multilateral assistance to World Bank, IMF and United Nations, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  £ 000 
			   World Bank  IMF  United Nations 
			 1997-98 189,815 20,000 131,658 
			 1998-99 173,753 18,000 121,322 
			 1999-2000 167,298 17,000 163,453 
			 2000-01 270,680 — 226,938 
			 2001-02 243,633 11,147 216,685 
			 2002-03 240,083 11,434 184,651 
			 2003-04 405,650 9,417 203,339 
			 2004-05 248,684 1,767 214,421 
			 2005-06 284,433 23,728 312,029 
			 2006-07 610,970 15 307,953

Overseas Aid: Water

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided for water projects in the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) project and programme and  (b) country.

Gareth Thomas: A detailed breakdown of DFID support for the water sector over the last five years can be found in the two reports titled "Financial Support to the Water Sector 2002 to 2004" and "Financial Support to the Water Sector 2004 to 2006", prepared for DFID by WS Atkins Plc. Both are available on DFID's website,
	www.dfid.gov.uk.
	Earlier data are not available on a comparable basis.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to provide assistance to Palestinians at the Rafah border crossing.

Shahid Malik: The 6,374 Palestinians who were stranded in Egypt due to the closure of the Rafah crossing returned to Gaza between 29 July and 12 August.
	No DFID assistance was required.

South East Asia: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he made available to those countries in south-east Asia affected by the floods there.

Shahid Malik: DFID responded to the floods in south Asia and Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. We did not receive requests for assistance from south-east Asian states.
	In Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, DFID contributed £650,000:
	£500,000 through WFP to provide food, clean water and safeguard people against water borne diseases;
	£149,422 to Save the Children for essential healthcare support;
	We have also offered support to the UN if required to assist with coordinating the relief effort.
	In south Asia DFID contributed over £5 million to help the worst affected countries:
	In Bangladesh we contributed £2.1 million through the Chars Livelihood Programme, United Nations Development Programme and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) to provide food, water, emergency shelter and medicines to help more than one million people in the worst-affected districts;
	In Pakistan, we contributed £2.2 million through the Pakistani Rural Support Programme Network, the United Nations, the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) providing multi-sectoral immediate relief as well as livelihoods assistance;
	In India, DFID gave Save the Children £750,000 to provide general relief items, health care and livelihood support, children's education and protection to 13,341 families (including 31,660 children).

Sudan: International Assistance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the US$ 100 million promised to the Eastern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund has been delivered; and what  (a) reports he has received on and  (b) assessment he has made of the work of the Fund's governing board.

Gareth Thomas: The Government of National Unity has allocated the required US$ 100 million to the Eastern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund but this funding has yet to be disbursed. The structure of the Fund's governing board, which is detailed in Article 23 of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement, has been agreed. However the executive director has not yet been appointed and as such the board is not operational. No reports have been received.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the number of civilians affected by the situation in Darfur and unable to access humanitarian aid due to the level of insecurity in the region; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: DFID does not make its own estimates but relies on those provided by the UN. The UN uses the number of people in need of emergency aid as its criterion for defining those who are affected by conflict. This figure currently stands at 4.2 million, including 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). There are some 500,000 people across Darfur who are cut off from all humanitarian assistance and protection services. For many of the others, access to aid is only sporadic and frequently interrupted by insecurity and attacks on humanitarian staff.
	DFID condemns the continuing violence targeting civilians and humanitarian workers in Darfur and has called on all sides to cease the violence immediately; revise the ceasefire, engage constructively in the renewed political process and support the rapid deployment of the AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.

UN High Commissioners for Refugees: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many press officers are employed by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Shahid Malik: DFID is not responsible for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and therefore does not hold information regarding the number of press officers employed by them.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Clergy: Sexual Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1592W, on clergy: sexual offences, whether the information submitted to the Police Service of Northern Ireland by solicitors acting on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church was in the form of full details or summaries of allegations.

Paul Goggins: Solicitors acting on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church provided PSNI with details regarding the victims and their allegations. This information permitted PSNI to make contact with those victims and establish the full facts of each case. For legal reasons no further comment can be made at this stage.

Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the name is of each special adviser in his Department.

Shaun Woodward: There are currently no special advisers employed in my Department.

Departments: Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been appointed to his Department outside Civil Service grades in the last 30 days.

Paul Goggins: From 1 July 2007 to date the Northern Ireland Office has not appointed any staff to its Department outside of civil service grades.

Departments: Taxis

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on taxis in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its Agencies and Executive NDPBs, spent £28,031 directly on taxis in 2006-07 (this is the last 12 months for which audited expenditure figures are available). However, where members of staff meet the cost of taxi fares out of their own pocket and reclaim the amount from the Department, such sums are grouped with other incidental expenses e.g. car parking. It would not be possible to extract the taxi element from these figures except at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Travel

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on  (a) first class and  (b) business class flights in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: £781,170 was spent on business class travel, and a further £60,908 was spent on foreign flights in 2006-07 (this is the last 12 months for which audited figures are available). It is not possible to disaggregate the amount spent on flights to foreign destination by class except at disproportionate cost.
	In January of this year the Department introduced arrangements for the greater use of economy class flights.

Departments: Tribunals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, spent £85,000 on industrial tribunals in 2006-07 (this is the last 12 months for which audited expenditure figures are available).

Departments: Visits Abroad

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many overseas visits were made by  (a) officials and  (b) Ministers within his responsibility, and at what cost, in each year since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, since April 2004 my Department has recorded the total cost of overseas travel by air and train by Ministers and officials. This information is set out in the following table. The majority of the journeys in question were made between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Information on the cost of car travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is not held centrally.
	
		
			   Flights  Cost (£)  Rail  Cost (£)  Total (£) 
			 April 2004 to December 2004 186 146,770.93 112 5,079.64 151,850.57 
			 January 2005 to December 2005 313 268,801.48 60 3,003.19 271,804.67 
			 January 2006 to December 2006 196 181,005.94 173 9,650.74 190,656.68 
			 January 2007 to June 2007 111 129,568.49 92 3,553.50 133,121.99 
		
	
	In addition, since 1999 the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Sexual Offences: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answers of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 20-2W, on sexual offences and 10 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1398-9W, on Northern Ireland: convictions, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the conviction rate for rape being lower than for all offences; what meetings he has had with  (a) the Police Service of Northern Ireland,  (b) the Public Prosecution Service and  (c) women's support or rape crisis groups to discuss ways of increasing the conviction rate; and what plans he has to increase the conviction rate for rape.

Paul Goggins: We remain committed to reviewing the effectiveness of case handling and improving support services to victims and survivors of sexual violence to help them cope with the traumatic impact of the offence and assist them in giving their best evidence in court.
	PSNI, with assistance from the Public Prosecution Service, has recently reviewed the management of a range of rape cases in order to find ways of improving the investigation of such cases. Preliminary findings are being analysed.
	A regional strategy for sexual violence, which was the subject of extensive consultation and workshops involving statutory and voluntary sector agencies, victims' groups and the general public, is due to be published by the end of the year by the NIO and DHSSPS. It will specifically examine factors which contribute to the attrition rate in relation to sexual offences and identify ways to address under reporting of offences, further improve inter-agency case management and develop services which meet the needs of victims of sexual violence.
	One of the strategy's key measures already announced ahead of formal publication is the development, by a multi-agency steering group involving victims' group Nexus, of Northern Ireland's first sexual assault referral centre. The SARC will build on the valuable services currently available in police child abuse and rape inquiry suites to deliver a more coordinated response to the needs of victims by providing immediate medical aftercare and individual counselling and other support services while also facilitating the preservation of forensic evidence to assist in the successful prosecution of offenders.

Vetting: Applications

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Criminal Records Check applications were received in each of the last three calendar years, broken down by category; how many have been received in 2007; what the trend is in average processing times during this period; how many staff are involved in undertaking this work; and what the budget is for the work in 2007-08.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI has advised that they are currently unable to provide accurate figures for vetting requests received prior to February 2007, due to technical difficulties. The PSNI is working to rectify this, and I have asked the Chief Constable to keep me updated on progress.
	A total of 80,119 applications were received between February and August 2007. The fall annual total is expected to be approximately 150,000. The following table gives a breakdown by category.
	Presently the PSNI vetting section has 10 staff. In 2007-08 the work is expected to cost £184,000 excluding overheads.
	The Police Service of Northern Ireland aims to turnaround 90 per cent. of vetting applications within 15 working days. This target has been met in previous years, but due to the technical difficulty noted above, is not being met at present. Additional resources have been dedicated to improving this performance, and progress towards the target is being monitored.
	
		
			  Vetting applications received by PSNI in period February to August 2007 
			  Source  February  March  April  May  June  July  August 
			 Compensation Agency—Pink 4 2 1 6 9 0 0 
			 Compensation Agency—White 973 451 894 385 0 587 550 
			 Compensation Agency—Faxes 18 22 43 29 0 24 0 
			 Education 6,383 3,125 2,090 1,479 1,396 2,332 3,034 
			 Child Care—Statutory Bodies 2,447 1,680 1,147 930 1,219 1,498 — 
			 Child Care Unit—Voluntary 3,294 2,747 3,272 3,153 2,039 2,514 4,379 
			 Student Placements 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Police Ombudsman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Public Service Vehicles 1,215 1,274 1,012 1,011 1,127 624 940 
			 Disclosure Scotland 215 252 217 247 236 424 0 
			 Other Police Forces 191 190 93 204 0 0 0 
			 Pre-Employment Consultancy Service 590 798 801 789 1,031 770 295 
			 Training Schools 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Probation Service—Child Access 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Firearms 5 2 0 4 0 1 1 
			 Force Alarms 45 46 48 43 49 80 70 
			 PNC Checks 55 40 53 33 30 26 0 
			 Probation Checks 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 
			 City Airport 99 91 85 95 184 81 27 
			 International Airport 286 298 149 279 317 208 0 
			 Door Supervisors 82 51 44 39 43 9 0 
			 Social Care Council 576 366 256 72 51 121 512 
			 Street Traders 2 10 6 12 6 0 0 
			 Community Affairs—Voluntary Sector 10 20 3 11 12 12 5 
			 Garda/Interpol 0 0 0 0 152 225 0 
			 Housing Executive 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bombardier 12 18 11 27 10 56 34 
			 NI Electricity 0 40 7 43 16 15 10 
			 Ranstad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Civil Service 811 380 485 711 418 140 372 
			 Civil Service Contracts 0 206 181 345 284 152 0 
			 NI Assembly 58 102 53 115 52 48 22 
			 NI Court Service 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 PNC—recruiting 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 PNC—NI Security Branch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Water Service 0 0 10 109 123 80 48 
			 Legal Services 0 0 12 4 14 3 0 
			 Environment and Heritage 0 0 7 2 6 3 0 
			 Youth Justice Agency 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 
			 Fire Brigade 0 0 0 7 8 4 0 
			 Others 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Child Access 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Subject Access 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 CRB 0 0 762 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 17,420 12,211 11,742 10,184 8,837 9,426 10,299 
			 Total in period 80,119

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many mobile phone masts are on the Valuation Office Agency's ratings list in England.

John Healey: The number of non-domestic hereditaments shown in the Rating Lists of England, under the description of Communication Station as at 26 September 2007 is 27,428. This figure includes all mast sites including mobile, telecommunications and broadcast sites. A break down to show the numbers of mobile phone sites could be delivered only at a disproportionate cost.

Allotments: Liability

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has provided to local authorities in relation to public liability and allotments.

Iain Wright: In June 2001 the Department (then DETR), the LGA, Shell Better Britain Campaign and the GLA jointly published a 'Growing in the Community: A Good Practice Guide for the Management of Allotments' for local authorities—a free copy was circulated to all local authorities. The aim of the guide was to raise standards in the provision, management and care of allotments and the guide has a section on public liability insurance. The guide recommends that local authorities obtain further advice on public liability from representative bodies such as the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners who provide free legal advice to members.
	The guide is currently being updated by the LGA in consultation with the Department and will be published later this year.
	More general advice on health and safety on allotments is available in 'Allotments: A Plot Holders Guide' which was published by the Department in June 2007, and in the Health and Safety facts sheet published by the Allotment Regeneration Initiative.

Allotments: Sales

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) approvals and  (b) rejections of the sale or disposal of allotments under the Allotments Act 1925 have been made by her and her predecessor since May 2007.

Iain Wright: We have been advised by the Government Offices that between 1 May 2007 and 20 September 2007 there have been 10 approvals of the sale or disposal of allotments:
	"Former" allotment land at Hollin Lane/Rochdale Road, Middleton, Rochdale.
	Turnsdale Allotment, County Durham—sale of one allotment plot which is continuing as an allotment.
	Days Field, Breckland—5.09 acres (replacement sites have been made available).
	Shoulder of Mutton, Breckland—3.47 acres (replacement sites have been made available).
	South Acton Estate, Ealing, London.
	Finnigan Road Allotment, Plymouth—sale of an 0.1 acre overgrown vacant plot for addition to garden of adjoining house.
	Whitton Church Land field, Ipswich (land not used for allotment purposes since before 1985)—to provide more football pitches in the locality.
	Bucklands Way Allotments, Sutton, London—temporary one year licence for occupation of land/hut which forms part of the allotment site.
	Church Fields Allotments Land, Surrey Heath—land given over to additional burial ground.
	Carshalton Athletic FC, War Memorial Sports Ground, Sutton, London.
	There have been no rejections of the sale of allotments.
	There are currently a total of 34 application cases which are pending decision.

Audit Commission: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officers are employed by the Audit Commission.

John Healey: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission. The Chief Executive of the Audit Commission has written to the hon. Member.

Council Housing: Overcrowding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council tenants in London are classed as living in overcrowded accommodation.

Iain Wright: Based on data derived from the Survey of English Housing it is estimated that over the period 2003-04 to 2005-06 an average of 62,000 households living in council housing in London were in overcrowded conditions, as defined by the Bedroom Standard.

Council Housing: Waiting Lists

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average waiting time was for council housing in each London borough in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: Information on average waiting time on a housing list for households is not held centrally. While information is collected centrally on the number of households on local authority housing waiting lists, which is given in the annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA), there is no indication of average time spent on a waiting list.
	The accuracy of the list also depends on the extent to which housing authorities keep the register up-to-date, e.g. some people might already have found housing, yet remain on the list. It is also important to bear in mind that not everyone on the waiting list will necessarily be in urgent housing need. It will also include those who consider social housing as their preferred choice, or one of a number of housing options.

Council Tax: South East Government Office

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the council tax collection rates of  (a) Gravesham,  (b) other councils in Kent and  (c) other councils in the South East Government Office in the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The collection and enforcement of council tax is a matter for individual billing authorities. Communities and Local Government has made no assessment of the collection rates in the last 10 years for Gravesham, other councils in Kent or other councils in the South East. Across England, in-year collection of council tax rose for the seventh successive year in 2006-07, to 96.9 per cent. of the total collectable.

Departmental Travel

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 12 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1629W, on departmental travel, what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose was of the visits to (i) the US and (ii) Kenya; and how many staff went on each visit.

Hazel Blears: The visit to the US cost £7,021 and was for two staff to share best practice with policy and law enforcement practitioners and community organisations working on integration/cohesion and preventing violent extremism and to deliver two lectures on these subjects.
	The Kenya visit cost £2,898 and was for one member of staff to attend the UN Habitat Governing Council as part of the UK delegation.

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2007,  Official Report, column 957W, on Departments: Legislation, which  (a) sections and  (b) schedules of the specified acts have (i) been repealed and (ii) not been brought into force.

Iain Wright: Pursuant to the answer given on 24 July,  Official Report, column 957W, provisions in acts sponsored by Communities and Local Government not yet in force or repealed are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Statute in force  Provisions not yet in force  Repealed provisions 
			
			 Local Government(Contracts) Act 1997 None s.1(3)(c), s.10, s.12 
			
			 Local Government Finance(Supplementary Credit Approvals) Act 1997 None Act wholly repealed 
			
			 Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 None Sch. 5 
			
			 Local Government Act 1999 None s.8(1), s.22(2), s.22(7), s.24(3), s.31 
			
			 Greater London Authority Act 1999 s.63, s.123, s.199, s.302, s.405, s.406, s.408, s.411, s.413 (in force only in so far as the section concerns any power of a minister to make regulations or an order); s.287(2); s.325 (in force only to the extent that it relates to para. 106 of Sch.1 and paras.69, 84(1), (3) and 105 of Sch.27); s.423 (in force only to the extent that it relates to Sch.34); Sch.27 (only para. 106 in force); Sch.32 s.21(3) and (4), s.52(7), s.66, s.86(3), s.108(2), s.111-118, s.136(1), s.175(4), s.201, s.203, s.204, s.219, s.235(2)(h), s.235(3)(d) and (e), s.235(6), s.242(9), s.252(1), s.283(2) and (4), s.284, s.286, s.310(2), s.326, s.330, s.337(10), s.352(3)(b), s.353(3), s.361, s.378(11)(e), s.391, s.425(3) 
			
			 Local Government Act 2000 s.96 s.7(2)(a), s.62(7)(b) (partially), s.68(4) and (5) (partially), s.83(1) (partially), s.94, s.95, s.102(1), s.104, Sch.5 paras. 14, 16, 17, 21 and 29 
			
			 Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 None s.1(4) 
			
			 Homelessness Act 2002 s.11 (applies only to Wales) None 
			
			 Fire Services Act 2003 None s.3(2)(b), s.3(3), s.3(4)(e) 
			
			 Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 None Sch.1 para.1 
			
			 Local Government Act 2003 s.3(1)-(4), (8), (9), (11) in England, s.68, s.69 s.23(1)(i), s.33(1)(h), s.100(2)(f), s.101(7)(b), s.109(2), s.119, s.121, Sch.7 paras. 1,5(3) and (5), 52(4), 66 and 67 
			
			 Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 None s.27, s.44(3) and (4), Sch.1 para. 55 
			
			 Housing Act 2004 s.104-122, s.124-131, 132(1)-(5), s.133 (all of which are not in force in England). Sch.11 paras. 15 and 16, Sch.15 para. 7(3)(b) and (4)(b), Sch.15 para. 37(2)(c) and (d), Sch.15 para.45(2)(a). Sch.16 brought into force only in relation to England (by SIs 2005/326, 2066/1060 and 2007/1068) and Wales (SIs 2005/1814 and 2006/1535) s.209-211, s.288(2)-(4), Sch.14, Sch.15 paras. 1, 7, 37, 45 and 46 
			
			 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 s.43 in part (some provisions commenced by SI 2005/2081 );s.45. s. 46-48, s.50, and parts of Schedules 6, 7 and 9 (in force for certain purposes only, see SI 2004/2097). s.60(7)

Departments: Ministerial Responsibilities

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the ministerial responsibilities of each of her ministerial team are.

Hazel Blears: The ministerial responsibilities of each member of the CLG ministerial team are outlined as follows.
	 Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
	 Right hon. Hazel Blears MP
	Overall responsibility for the Department and its policies, including departmental strategic objectives (DSOs); public service agreement (PSA) targets; comprehensive spending review settlement
	Empowering communities and citizens
	Olympics legacy
	 Minister for Housing
	 Yvette Cooper MP
	Lead responsibility for: housing policy and programmes (Homebuy and shared ownership, low and zero-carbon housing, eco-towns, homelessness, HMR pathfinders, social housing, HIPs), including housing elements of the comprehensive spending review and PSAs; and planning reform (town and country planning); and representing the Department in Cabinet on these areas of policy
	Physical and housing-related regeneration and sponsor minister for new Homes Agency implementation
	Housing and Regeneration Bill
	Urban policy and design
	Sustainable development and climate change: including the code for sustainable homes and building regulations
	Minister for the Thames Gateway, new growth points and growth areas
	Olympics legacy issues
	 Minister for Local Government
	 John Healey MP
	Lead responsibility for local government policy and finance, including local government pensions and Supporting People
	Cities and regions (including lead minister for the Greater London Authority Bill)
	Government offices
	Neighbourhood renewal and tackling disadvantage (including neighbourhood renewal fund; new deal for communities; LEGI)
	Planning for major infrastructure, and the Planning Bill
	Resilience and recovery from flooding
	Overview of fire and rescue service
	Community engagement and empowerment; Quirk review
	Overview of liveability
	Joint Chair of the London Resilience Forum
	 Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State
	 Parmjit Dhanda MP
	Cohesion (including joint chair of Migration Impacts Forum)
	Preventing violent extremism
	Fire and rescue service
	Support on local government policy and finance (including local government pensions)
	Sponsor Minister for Valuation Tribunal Service
	Planning casework for East Midlands; East; London; South East; Olympics cases; (includes all cases in the growth areas)
	Support on planning for major infrastructure, and the Planning Bill
	 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
	 Iain Wright MP
	Support on all aspects of housing policy and programmes and town and country planning, and physical and housing-related regeneration, including decent homes, housing market renewal, and homelessness
	Support for Housing and Regeneration Bill
	Support on urban policy and urban design; code for sustainable homes; building regulations
	Climate change and sustainable development
	Ordnance Survey (shareholder Minister)
	Phone masts
	Sponsor for Audit Commission
	Gypsies and Travellers
	 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
	 Baroness Andrews of Southover
	Departmental business in the House of Lords
	Responsibility for departmental contribution to the Respect agenda
	Support on Supporting People (including individual budgets)
	Support on neighbourhood renewal and tackling disadvantage (including neighbourhood renewal fund; new deal for communities; LEGI)
	Liveability
	Planning casework for Yorkshire and Humber; North East; South West; West Midlands; North West
	Planning inspectorate sponsor
	Ordnance Survey (client Minister)
	Disabled facilities grant
	National strategy for an ageing society
	Third sector strategy
	Supporting on community engagement and empowerment; Quirk review
	Digital inclusion
	Champion Minister for culture and regeneration

Departments: Private Finance Initiatives

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private finance initiatives projects her Department expects to sign in each of the next three years.

Iain Wright: The number of local authority private finance initiative projects sponsored by Communities and Local Government which are expected to be signed in each of the next three years are as follows:
	
		
			   Projects 
			 2008-09 14 
			 2009-10 11 
			 2010-11 5 
		
	
	The above estimate is based on the current project timetables submitted by the relevant Communities and Local Government sponsored local authorities taking forward PFI projects.

Departments: Redundancy Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by her Department on redundancy payments in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: The cost of redundancies (including voluntary redundancies) of staff leaving the central part of the Department for Communities and Local Government during the 12 months to 30 June 2007 was £21.6 million.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by her Department on  (a) staff training and  (b) communication training in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: The Department has spent £2,042,054 on staff training in the last 12 months. Details of communication training are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Derelict Land: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of new homes were built on brownfield sites in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: Statistics for the period 2001 to 2005 (the most recent and statistically robust available) for the percentage of new dwellings (not including conversions) built on previously-developed ("brownfield") land are shown in the following table. The figure for the whole of London is 94 per cent.
	
		
			  Percentage of dwellings built on previously-developed land, in London 2001-05 
			   Percentage 
			 Barking and Dagenham 84 
			 Barnet 93 
			 Bexley 87 
			 Brent 85 
			 Bromley 90 
			 Camden 93 
			 City of London 100 
			 Croydon 99 
			 Baling 90 
			 Enfield 92 
			 Greenwich 95 
			 Hackney 99 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 100 
			 Haringey 100 
			 Harrow 86 
			 Havering 96 
			 Hillingdon 88 
			 Hounslow 93 
			 Islington 99 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 99 
			 Kingston upon Thames 94 
			 Lambeth 94 
			 Lewisham 99 
			 Merton 90 
			 Newham 82 
			 Redbridge 97 
			 Richmond upon Thames 98 
			 Southwark 94 
			 Sutton 99 
			 Tower Hamlets 98 
			 Waltham Forest 94 
			 Wandsworth 100 
			 Westminster 100

Emergency Services: Gloucestershire

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the role played by the Gloucestershire tri-service centre during recent floods and water shortages.

John Healey: holding answer 10 September 2007
	A review of the wider lessons learned is to be carried out by the Cabinet Office, with support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Communities and Local Government. This will examine the emergency response to the floods in June and July and consider how to reduce the risk and impact of floods in the future. The role performed by the Gloucestershire tri-service centre will be taken into account as part of this wider exercise.

Emergency Services: Gloucestershire

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will review the decision to break up the Gloucestershire tri-service centre.

John Healey: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The Gloucestershire tri-service centre will not be broken up. The centre will continue to house staff from all three emergency services and support tri-service working after the control room of the fire and rescue service is moved to the South West Regional Control Centre. The Government are committed to creating a new national network of nine resilient regional control centres which will enhance the ability of the Fire and Rescue Service to respond to major incidents and natural disasters in a co-ordinated, efficient and effective manner. We believe that the public will be better protected by this approach. The new Regional Control Centres will however build on the valuable lessons learnt on joint working from the tri-service pilots, including the recent experience of dealing with flooding in Gloucestershire.

English Partnerships: Information Officers

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officers are employed by English Partnerships.

Iain Wright: English Partnerships does not employ press officers. It does however have six corporate communications officer posts in its headquarters which deal with press and media inquiries as part of their remit. One of these posts is currently vacant.

Equality: EC Action

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the UK Government have received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission on the implementation of the race equality directive (2000/43/CE); and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The UK received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission concerning the implementation of Council Directive 2000/43/EC ("the Race directive") on 29 June 2007. The Commission argued that the UK had not fully transposed the Race directive in relation to the definition of indirect discrimination, and because there was a lack of transparency over the remedies available to victims of instructions to discriminate. The Government replied to the Commission on 24 August confirming that it would amend domestic law to clarify the situation and meet the Commission's concerns. We intend to lay regulations before Parliament shortly.

First Time Buyers: Age

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the mean age of a first-time buyer was in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The mean age of a first-time buyer is not collected. The average age of a first-time buyer in the UK is available on the Council of Mortgage Lenders website at http://www.cml. org.uk/cml/filegrab/2ML2.xls?ref=4624
	These figures are also presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Median age of first-time buyers, UK 
			   Median age 
			 1997 29 
			 1998 29 
			 1999 30 
			 2000 30 
			 2001 30 
			 2002 31 
			 2003 31 
			 2004 31 
			 2005 30 
			 2006 29 
			  Source: CML.

Floods: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requests she received in July 2007 for assistance with flooding recovery and humanitarian aid by Bassetlaw District Council  (a) in writing,  (b) by e-mail and  (c) by telephone.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government have been in regular contact with all the local authorities who have been affected by the floods and this includes Bassetlaw district council
	Contact with Bassetlaw district council has included collecting information to inform understanding of the impact of the flooding in the district and specific information to contribute to the decision making process for the provision of the Flood Recovery Grant. On the basis of the relative number of households affected (based on the available information at the time) Bassetlaw district council was allocated £250,000 in Flood Recovery Grant (£200,000 on 13 July and £50,000 on 20 July).
	In addition, on 27 June 2007 Bassetlaw district council notified Communities and Local Government of their intention to claim under the Bellwin scheme for the June floods. The Bellwin scheme provides emergency financial assistance from Government to local authorities to help meet the uninsurable costs of immediate action to safeguard life or property or prevent severe inconvenience to inhabitants in the case of an emergency or disaster such as the floods.

Floods: EC Grants and Loans

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what European Union assistance is available to help rebuild communities damaged by floodwater; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to apply for EU funding assistance to help communities rebuild after the recent flooding; and what the deadline is for applying for any such assistance.

John Healey: On 20 August 2007, UK submitted an application to the European Commission for support from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help recovery from the recent flooding.

Greenbelt: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the Green Belt Boundary Layer was removed from her Department's Maps On Tap database March 2007 data update.

Iain Wright: The green belt boundary data held by the Maps on Tap database was removed as the license to use this commercial product has been cancelled.

Home Information Packs

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 164W, on home information packs, what payments her Department and its predecessor have made to  (a) Rightmove and  (b) Countrywide for advice, research or consultancy on home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: The Department has not made any such payments to Rightmove or Countrywide.

Home Information Packs

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 164W, on home information packs, what payments her Department and its predecessor made to  (a) Rightmove and  (b) Countryside for pilot schemes relating to home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: The Department has not made any such payments to Rightmove or Countrywide.

Home Information Packs

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings Ministers from her Department have had with the Association of Home Information Pack Providers in the last 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: I have met with the Association of Home Information Pack Providers (AHIPP) on a number of occasions, most recently on 6 September 2007. I have also had similar meetings with other representative bodies and we are continuing to work closely with all key stakeholders on HIPs and EPCs.

Home Information Packs

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations her Department has received from  (a) Flint Bishop solicitors and  (b) Labour Legal Services in the last 12 months on home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: The Department for Communities and Local Government has no record of representations received from Flint Bishop solicitors or Labour Legal Services in the last 12 months on home information packs.

Home Information Packs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) home information packs and  (b) energy performance certificates may include the unique property reference number or a BS7666-compliant address of the domestic dwelling.

Yvette Cooper: Energy performance certificates include a unique property reference number, which is generated by the Register Operator. Neither this nor a BS7666-compliant address is included in a HIP.

Home Information Packs: Valuation Office

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the Valuation Office Agency has not been granted access to the home condition report database.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1400W to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) regarding access to home condition reports.

Homelessness: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in  (a) South Cambridgeshire and  (b) East Cambridgeshire were accepted as homeless in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level, in respect of households rather than people.
	Information reported each quarter by local authorities about their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation.
	This data is published in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, which includes a Supplementary Table showing the breakdown of key data, including acceptances, by each local authority. This table is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 10 September 2007 and contains data for the period April to June 2007:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	A summary table showing the total number of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty for East and South Cambridgeshire is as follows.
	
		
			  Number of households accepted( 1)  as owed a main homelessness duty during the year 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   East Cambridgeshire  South Cambridgeshire 
			 1997-98 92 80 
			 1998-99 167 67 
			 1999-2000 180 85 
			 2000-01 208 125 
			 2001-02 207 148 
			 2002-03 150 103 
			 2003-04 185 129 
			 2004-05 192 116 
			 2005-06 139 122 
			 2006-07 152 87 
			 (1 )Households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty  Source:  CLG P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly)

Homelessness: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what percentage of people were  (a) homeless and  (b) on the council housing waiting list in each London borough in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: The first table shows (i) the number of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, and (ii) this number as a percentage of total households in the area, for each London borough for the last 10 financial years (from 1997-98 to 2006-07).
	Information on numbers of households, rather than people, is reported each quarter by local authorities about their activities under homelessness legislation, and includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation.
	The second table shows (i) the total number of households on local authorities' housing waiting lists (i.e. not just those that are homeless), and (ii) this number as a percentage of total households in the area, for each London borough for the last 10 calendar years (from 1997 to 2006).
	Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get onto the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house—particularly where the priority system is heavily based on waiting time. Note that the figures include all households on the waiting list, and not only those that are homeless.
	
		
			  Table (a): Number and percentage of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty in each London borough 
			  (i) Number of households accepted( 1)  as owed a main homeles sness duty during the year, 1997-98 to 2006- 07 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 65 257 230 234 346 595 667 775 345 (1)— 
			 Barnet 872 1,027 1,103 1,159 1,112 (2)— 1,084 758 (2—) 471 
			 Bexley 285 319 275 359 454 468 365 430 270 251 
			 Brent 1,164 (2—) 1,040 1,146 1,236 1,039 897 795 813 738 
			 Bromley 610 728 839 881 785 865 873 (2—) 718 621 
			 Camden 1,422 1,555 1,338 1,021 1,120 1,290 1,648 1,148 697 322 
			 City of London 44 53 64 17 12 31 22 31 19 12 
			 Croydon (2—) 814 1,219 1,886 1,198 1,291 1,240 1,126 581 340 
			 Ealing 1,068 1,016 989 1,026 860 1,001 1,094 789 662 442 
			 Enfield 743 754 793 1,007 1,143 1,186 1,085 (2—) 852 768 
			 Greenwich 1,270 1,403 1,242 1,227 1,217 1,003 1,246 1,157 970 610 
			 Hackney 676 705 963 (2—) (2—) 1,136 (2—) 1,153 (2—) 774 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 598 709 895 918 805 811 644 653 430 443 
			 Haringey 1,157 975 (2—) 1,436 1,138 (2—) (2—) 1,175 1,128 585 
			 Harrow 690 720 670 701 444 400 264 96 120 159 
			 Havering 283 (2—) (2—) (2—) (2—) 180 452 200 (2—) 264 
			 Hillingdon 932 914 686 1,003 1,119 933 735 461 396 311 
			 Hounslow 858 (2—) 1,003 945 1,383 852 691 891 674 466 
			 Islington 949 (2—) 1,298 1,556 1,428 1,314 (2—) 1,130 (2—) 686 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 594 (2—) 533 658 593 410 476 589 299 269 
			 Kingston upon Thames 437 (2—) 306 421 (2—) 448 418 (2—) (2—) 230 
			 Lambeth 779 1,039 1,124 1,110 1,470 1,651 1,545 1,644 1,277 735 
			 Lewisham (2—) 1,085 1,248 (2—) 1,102 1,170 1,502 1,245 1,097 744 
			 Merton 186 205 242 168 173 156 204 261 215 107 
			 Newham (2—) 1,383 1,411 1,596 1,449 1,433 1,519 (2—) 1,422 428 
			 Redbridge 322 302 450 (2—) 437 (2—) 806 (2—) 599 410 
			 Richmond upon Thames 584 633 432 343 399 325 316 279 254 152 
			 Southwark 890 1,204 1,614 1,702 1,317 1,827 1,540 1,668 1,039 723 
			 Sutton 274 299 513 429 462 429 312 272 219 215 
			 Tower Hamlets 971 1,070 1,130 1,282 1,401 1,617 1,657 1,151 789 864 
			 Waltham Forest 880 (2—) 856 1,024 1,121 1,140 1,025 800 769 696 
			 Wandsworth 440 (2—) (2—) 886 927 1,072 1,036 840 680 589 
			 Westminster  1,266 1,152 1,074 1,176 1,132 1,117 1,112 970 662 
		
	
	
		
			  (ii)- Percentage of households accepted( 1)  as owed a main homelessness duty during the year, out of total number of households in each Borough, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  Percentage 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-00  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.9 1 0 1 2 0.5 (2—) 
			 Barnet 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 (2—) 0.8 0.6 (2—) 0.4 
			 Bexley 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.3 
			 Brent 1.3 (2—) 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7 
			 Bromley 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 (2—) 0.6 0.5 
			 Camden 1.7 1.9 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.2 0.7 0.3 
			 City of London 1.4 1.5 1.7 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.2 
			 Croydon (2—) 0.6 0.9 1 .4 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.2 
			 Ealing 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.4 
			 Enfield 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.0 (2—) 0.8 0.7 
			 Greenwich 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.0 0.6 
			 Hackney 0.9 0.9 1.2 (2—) (2—) 1.3 (2—) 1.3 (2—) 0.9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.6 
			 Haringey 1.3 1.1 (2—) 1.6 1.2 (2—) (2—) 1.2 1.2 0.6 
			 Harrow 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 Havering 0.3 (2—) (2—) (2—) (2—) 0.2 0.5 0.2 (2—) 0.3 
			 Hillingdon 1.0 1.0 0.7 1.0 1.2 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 
			 Hounslow 1.1 (2—) 1.2 1.2 1.6 1.0 0.8 1.1 0.8 0.6 
			 Islington 1.2 (2—) 1.7 2.0 1.7 1.6 (2—) 1.4 (2—) 0.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.9 (2—) 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.3 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0.8 (2—) 0.5 0.7 (2—) 0.7 0.7 (2—) (2—) 0.4 
			 Lambeth 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.1 0.6 
			 Lewisham (2—) 1.1 1.2 (2—) 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.7 
			 Merton 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 
			 Newham (2—) 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.6 (2—) 1.5 0.5 
			 Redbridge 0.4 0.3 0.5 (2—) 0.5 (2—) 0.9 (2—) 0.6 0.4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 
			 Southwark 0.9 1.2 1.6 1.7 1.2 1.7 1.4 1.5 0.9 0.7 
			 Sutton 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 
			 Tower Hamlets 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1 .8 2.0 2.0 1.4 0.9 1 .0 
			 Waltham Forest 1.0 (2)— 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.8 
			 Wandsworth 0.4 (2)— (2)— 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.5 
			 Westminster (2)— 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.6 
			 (1) Households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty. (2) Denotes data not reported  Note: Mid-year estimates. 2005-06 and 2006-07 figures based on latest mid-year estimate (2004)  Source: CLG P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly)

Housing Associations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the legal status is of housing associations.

Iain Wright: The term "housing association" is defined in section 1 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 for the purposes of that Act as:
	"A society, body of trustees, or company—
	(a) which is established for the purpose of, or amongst whose objects or powers are included those of, providing, constructing, improving or managing, or facilitating or encouraging the construction or improvement of, housing accommodation, and
	(b) which does not trade for profit or whose constitution or rules prohibit the issue of capital with interest or dividend exceeding such rate as may be prescribed by the Treasury, whether with or without differentiation as between share and loan capital."

Housing Corporation: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officers are employed by the Housing Corporation.

Iain Wright: The Housing Corporation currently employs two press officers.

Housing Green Paper

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many hard copies of the 2007 Housing Green Paper were printed and then discarded following the last minute changes to the document.

Iain Wright: No copies were printed then discarded.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of a zero carbon residential dwelling.

Iain Wright: As set out in "Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement", a zero carbon home means that, over a year, the net carbon emissions from all energy use in the home would be zero. This would include energy use from cooking, washing and electronic appliances as well as space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies have made of the effect on construction costs of building a zero-carbon home.

Iain Wright: A regulatory impact assessment, which sets out the range of estimated costs associated with the zero carbon homes policy, as set out in Building a Greener Future Policy Statement, was published on 23 July 2007 and is available on the Department's website.

Housing: Construction

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local planning authorities in each  (a) region and  (b) county have approved (i) local development framework core strategies and (ii) housing allocation development plan documents.

Iain Wright: 14 local planning authorities have been issued with final inspectors' reports finding their core strategy development plan documents sound. 12 of these authorities have now proceeded to adoption of their core strategy. These are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Region (a)  County (b)  Local Planning Authority  Title(i)  Adopted 
			 East Norfolk Broads Core Strategy Awaited 
			 East Cambridgeshire South Cambridgeshire Core Strategy Yes 
			 North East Northumberland Blyth Valley Core Strategy Yes 
			 North East Unitary Authority (North Yorkshire) Redcar and Cleveland Core Strategy Yes 
			 North East Tyne and Wear South Tyneside Core Strategy Yes 
			 South East West Sussex Crawley Core Strategy Awaited 
			 South East Surrey Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy Yes 
			 South East Hampshire Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy Yes 
			 South East West Sussex Horsham Core Strategy Yes 
			 South East Kent Tonbridge and Malling Core Strategy No 
			 South West Devon Mid Devon Core Strategy Yes 
			 South West Devon Plymouth Core Strategy Yes 
			 South West Devon South Hampshire Core Strategy Yes 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber North Yorkshire Hambleton Core Strategy Yes 
		
	
	Seven local planning authorities have been issued with final reports finding their area action plans sound. These area action plans have included housing allocations as part of the development plan document. The seven relevant authorities have all proceeded to adoption. These are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Region (a)  County (b)  Local Planning Authority  Title (ii)  Adopted 
			 East Cambridgeshire South Cambridgeshire Northstowe Area Action Plan Yes 
			 North East Tyne and Wear Newcastle Walker Riverside Area Action Plan Yes 
			 South West Devon Plymouth North Plymstock Area Action Plan Yes 
			 South West Devon Plymouth Millbay/ Stonehouse Area Action Plan Yes 
			 South West Devon Plymouth Devonport Area Action Plan Yes 
			 South West Devon South Hampshire Sherford Area Action Plan Yes 
			 West Midlands Staffordshire Staffordshire Moorlands BiddulphTown Centre Area Action Plan Yes

Housing: Construction

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the number of house building starts and completions there have been in each of the last four quarters.

Yvette Cooper: The latest statistics on new house building were published on the 16 August: Communities and Local Government Statistical Release: "House building: April to June Quarter 2007".

Housing: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which public sector bodies are entitled to undertake  (a) primary disclosures and  (b) secondary disclosure of information from (i) the Home Condition Report database and (ii) the Energy Performance Certificate database.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1400W, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), regarding disclosure of Home Condition Reports.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 161W, to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Gove), regarding disclosure of Energy Performance Certificates.

Housing: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) home condition reports and  (b) energy performance certificates (EPCs) that will be lodged on the respective online registers once (i) home information packs are required for all homes and (ii) EPCs are required for rented and social domestic dwellings.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 25 June 2005,  Official Report, column 160W, given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles). We will be monitoring the take-up on Home Condition Report.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive—Articles 7-10 published on 29 March 2007 details the estimated number of energy performance certificates that will be lodged in the register by sector.|

Housing: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the URLs are for the  (a) Energy Performance Certificate database and  (b) Home Condition Report database.

Yvette Cooper: The URLs are for the Energy Performance Certificate database and Home Condition Report database are www.epcregister.com and www.hcrregister.com.

Housing: Empty Properties

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes in the private and social sectors she plans to bring back into use; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: We are committed to reducing the number of empty homes and in particular the number of homes that are left empty for long periods of time. The Government do not set a national target for the number of empty homes to be brought back into use as this can be affected by local housing market conditions. However, the Housing Green Paper makes it clear that local authorities should do more to tackle empty homes and we are exploring ways to achieve an increase in activity. We consider that all local authorities should have in place comprehensive strategies on how they intend to deal with empty homes. Many local authorities set their own empty homes targets.

Housing: Empty Properties

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on her plans to encourage a greater take-up of empty dwelling management orders.

Iain Wright: The Housing Green Paper makes it clear that local authorities should do more to tackle empty homes as part of a wider strategy of increasing housing supply and we are exploring and consulting on ways to achieve this. We consider that all local authorities should have in place strategies on how they intend to deal with empty homes. We expect such strategies to identify and address the different reasons for empty homes.
	Enforcement action to bring empty homes back into use should only be considered as a last resort when voluntary measures have proved unsuccessful. We are therefore keen to ensure that local authorities adopt empty dwelling management orders as part of a comprehensive strategy that encompasses a wide range of options.

Housing: Empty Properties

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there were in  (a) South Cambridgeshire and  (b) East Cambridgeshire in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: Estimates for vacant dwellings in the local authority areas of East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire since 2002 are tabulated. These include vacancies up to six months and long term vacancies over six months. These are as reported by local authorities through the Council Tax Base (CTB1) form and present vacant dwellings receiving some or a full discount on council tax.
	
		
			   East Cambridgeshire  South Cambridgeshire 
			  November   
			 2002 971 1,366 
			 2003 964 1,650 
			 2004 1,020 1,764 
			  October   
			 2005 784 1,486 
			 2006 911 1,538

Housing: Energy

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether research has been conducted by her Department and its predecessor into the manner in which the EU directive on energy performance certificates has been implemented in other EU member states.

Yvette Cooper: The UK is as a member state committed to the implementation of the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings. It participates fully in Article 14 meetings hosted by the European Commission and attends meetings of the Concerted Action network which shares best practice on implementation of the directive.

Housing: Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) enforcement notices were served and  (b) prosecutions were brought as a result of non-compliance with the energy efficiency requirements in Part L of the Building Regulations in each year between 2002 and 2007.

Iain Wright: Enforcement of compliance with the Building Regulations is undertaken by local authorities. There is no central register of enforcement notices served or prosecutions brought. In the main, local authorities aim to resolve issues that arise through inspection of and advice to those undertaking work. Enforcement notices and prosecution are generally only used as a last resort.

Housing: Floods

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library copies of the submissions to the consultation on the most recent revision to PPS25.

Iain Wright: A report summarising the responses to the Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk consultation has been placed in the Library of the House and is also available on the Communities and Local Government website. This is located at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/154211.
	Responses can be viewed on request at the Eland House offices of Communities and Local Government.

Housing: Floods

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many homes built in the last 10 years suffered flood damage in June and July 2007;
	(2)  what her most recent estimate is of the number of homes that were flooded in England in June and July 2007.

John Healey: Local authorities have provided their own figures on the number of households affected by flooding (defined as those residential properties where the habitable accommodation has been affected, and excluding those, where—for example—only garage and/or outbuildings were affected). On that basis, information held as of 25 September 2007 estimates that 47,933 households were flooded in June and July. The figures may include some households which flooded on both occasions. We do not hold data which allows us to identify whether individual houses were damaged by the flooding.
	The information requested on how many homes built in the last 10 years suffered flood damage in June and July 2007 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Floods

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the source is of the dataset Areas of Land at Risk of Flooding held on her Department's MapsOnTap database.

Iain Wright: The source of the data set, Areas of Land at Risk of Flooding, held on the 'Maps on Tap' database is the Environment Agency.

Housing: Floods

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of new domestic dwellings were built in areas of flood risk in each Government office region in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: On a provisional estimate, 9 per cent. of all new dwellings in England in 2005 were built in flood risk areas. A more robust estimate for 2004 shows that 10 per cent. of all new dwellings in England were built in flood risk areas during that year. The following table gives a breakdown by Government office region of the percentage of new dwellings built in flood risk areas for the last 10 years.
	Flood risk is a major factor in the location of new development. Flood risk areas account for about 10 per cent. of land in England, including parts of major cities, and around 10 per cent. of the population already live in flood risk areas. The Government's aim is to avoid inappropriate development in areas of high flood risk. The Government published planning policy statement (PPS25) in December 2006 to strengthen and clarify earlier policy on this issue.
	PPS25 ensures that flood risk must be taken into account at all stages of the planning process. Development that would not be safe in the higher flood risk areas should be directed to areas of lower risk wherever this is practicable. In particular, more vulnerable development, such as housing, should not be permitted in high risk areas unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the need for the development outweighs the risk, and it will be safe, without increasing flood risk.
	The definition of high flood risk areas and floodplain used by Communities and Local Government is the high risk zone mapped by the Environment Agency as being at a probability of flooding, excluding the presence of flood defences, of at least a one in 100 each year for river flooding and at least a one in 200 for coastal flooding. This is the basis for the definition of 'high risk areas' in PPS25.
	
		
			  Percentage of all new dwellings built in flood risk areas, by region, 1996 to 2005 
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005( 1) 
			 North East 6 5 2 3 1 2 2 3 2 2 
			 North West 5 5 7 5 6 9 6 8 5 4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11 12 7 10 13 12 11 15 10 13 
			 East Midlands 10 12 6 7 9 11 13 13 11 9 
			 West Midlands 7 4 6 6 2 4 5 4 5 3 
			 East of England 6 7 8 7 7 6 7 8 7 13 
			 London 27 25 26 24 23 20 21 28 26 18 
			 South East 6 8 9 10 9 10 8 10 7 7 
			 South West 5 6 6 8 7 8 10 7 8 7 
			
			 England 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 11 10 9 
			 (1) Provisional.  Notes: 1. There is an inevitable time-lag between land use change occurring and it being recorded, therefore data are constantly being updated. 2. The data in the table are based on records received from Ordnance Survey up to March 2007.  Source: Land Use Change Statistics

Housing: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The figures requested are tabulated as follows.
	
		
			  New build completions by London boroughs 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 London 15,670 19,394 24,063 18,809 21,997 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 222 263 576 467 684 
			 Barnet 712 902 1,326 597 377 
			 Bexley 271 773 221 140 212 
			 Brent 850 536 390 251 632 
			 Bromley 203 269 874 497 484 
			 Camden 77 162 499 400 378 
			 City of London 67 213 45 41 2 
			 Croydon 616 289 391 400 845 
			 Ealing 236 730 605 702 1,325 
			 Enfield 606 379 524 703 998 
			 Greenwich 1,410 878 1,576 1,073 1,134 
			 Hackney 333 205 525 353 420 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 78 135 281 131 202 
			 Haringey 172 78 569 79 35 
			 Harrow 547 291 238 275 320 
			 Havering 263 271 457 486 650 
			 Hillingdon 391 426 473 306 194 
			 Hounslow 459 998 777 1,192 1,556 
			 Islington 283 220 166 383 743 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 269 602 120 75 139 
			 Kingston upon Thames 207 405 425 188 172 
			 Lambeth 392 224 552 659 942 
			 Lewisham 483 447 188 164 457 
			 Merton 306 115 502 948 646 
			 Newham 402 981 553 796 471 
			 Redbridge 510 419 650 963 513 
			 Richmond upon Thames 269 361 316 249 159 
			 Southwark 384 619 1,832 1,120 512 
			 Sutton 372 272 670 400 455 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,486 1,916 2,952 1,918 1,904 
			 Waltham Forest 345 191 293 256 394 
			 Wandsworth 625 483 1,260 338 722 
			 Westminster 842 784 421 357 211 
			  Source: Returns to CLG from local authorities and the NHBC. Local authority figures presented are as reported. Regional totals include estimates for missing returns.

Housing: Immigration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 745W, on Housing: Immigration, how many of the additional households projected by each of the sets of household projections referred to in that Answer were projected to be in  (a) London and  (b) each region of England.

Iain Wright: An estimate of the amount of projected household growth attributable to net migration is available at the England level only. This is because the estimate is derived from the Office for National Statistics variant population projections that are themselves available at the England level only.

Housing: Inspections

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) mean and  (b) median time is for (i) a home inspector and (ii) a domestic energy assessor to be fully accredited.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 June 2007,  Official Report, column 633W to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).

Housing: Inspections

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of trained and accredited  (a) home inspectors and  (b) domestic energy inspectors likely not to practise as such within (i) one and (ii) five years of qualifying.

Yvette Cooper: The number of home inspectors and domestic energy assessors will be sufficient to produce the energy performance certificates for home information packs required by the market.

Housing: Local Authorities

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authority houses were  (a) sold and  (b) demolished in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: The numbers of local authority homes sold and demolished in each London borough in each of the last five years are tabulated below. Figures for 2006-07 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Sales( 1)  and demolitions of local authority homes: London 
			  LA name   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Barking and Dagenham Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales n/a 585 653 431 249 
			
			 Barnet Demolitions 0 0 n/a 0 0 
			  Sales 169 n/a 251 n/a 47 
			
			 Bexley Demolitions LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT 
			  Sales LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT 
			
			 Brent Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 159 157 185 n/a 71 
			
			 Bromley Demolitions LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT 
			  Sales LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT 
			
			 Camden Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 671 477 518 433 137 
			
			 City of London Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 53 53 77 54 13 
			
			 Croydon Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 259 242 324 182 42 
			
			 Ealing Demolitions 100 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 309 n/a 339 176 51 
			
			 Enfield Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 210 279 382 216 67 
			
			 Greenwich Demolitions 0 0 0 0 2 
			  Sales 470 561 701 409 127 
			
			 Hackney Demolitions 213 188 175 0 213 
			  Sales n/a 728 656 709 202 
			
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Demolitions 102 0 159 24 19 
			  Sales 212 n/a 228 215 116 
			
			 Haringey Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales n/a 363 500 473 226 
			
			 Harrow Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 88 69 81 54 32 
			
			 Havering Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 219 216 258 124 89 
			
			 Hillingdon Demolitions 28 0 0 0 2 
			  Sales 163 163 177 105 76 
			
			 Hounslow Demolitions 253 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales n/a n/a 372 166 43 
			
			 Islington Demolitions 54 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 840 677 743 n/a n/a 
			
			 Kensington and Chelsea Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 42 43 66 49 13 
			
			 Kingston upon Thames Demolitions 0 n/a 0 0 0 
			  Sales 31 70 64 36 14 
			
			 Lambeth Demolitions 0 0 0 20 20 
			  Sales n/a n/a n/a 959 n/a 
			
			 Lewisham Demolitions 339 254 84 243 161 
			  Sales n/a 1,000 n/a n/a 343 
			
			 Merton Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 164 195 192 122 45 
			
			 Newham Demolitions 0 0 182 85 0 
			  Sales 611 739 888 648 211 
			
			 Redbridge Demolitions 0 0 n/a 0 0 
			  Sales 100 119 125 115 71 
			
			 Richmond upon Thames Demolitions LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT 
			  Sales LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT LSVT 
			
			 Southwark Demolitions 519 360 97 0 278 
			  Sales 943 990 1,445 1,754 769 
			
			 Sutton Demolitions 147 202 173 129 60 
			  Sales 130 150 145 59 15 
			
			 Tower Hamlets Demolitions 42 44 195 0 45 
			  Sales 1,009 1,213 815 866 400 
			
			 Waltham Forest Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 189 n/a 288 211 53 
			
			 Wandsworth Demolitions 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales n/a 253 312 367 137 
			
			 Westminster Demolitions 12 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales 204 254 298 149 40 
			 n/a = data not available LSVT = Large scale voluntary transfer (no local authority housing in district) (1) Includes right to buy sales, sales to sitting tenants and other sales to owner occupiers.  Source: Local authority returns (P1B, BPSA)

Housing: Low Incomes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many shared equity homes are on the National Register of Social Housing in England.

Iain Wright: The National Register of Social Housing recorded 4,221 dwellings in shared ownership in England in July 2007. This is 1.3 per cent. of the 318,976 dwellings for which the category of provision had been provided by local authorities and housing associations.
	In July 2007 the National Register of Social Housing contained records of 1.19 million dwellings out of a total of 4 million. Participation by landlords is at present discretionary. Landlords have only provided the category of provision information for 318,976 dwellings. Without this we are not able to identify those in shared ownership. We are working with local authorities, and, through the Housing Corporation, with housing associations to speed up the capture of data and complete the information on category of provision and other attributes.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Minister approved the establishment of the National Register of Social Housing; and on what date approval was given.

Iain Wright: My right hon. Friend the Member for Streatham, (Keith Hill) then Minister of Housing and Local Government, approved the establishment of the National Register of Social Housing on 13 September 2004.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the  (a) Social Homebuy, ( b) Open Markets Homebuy and  (c) New Build Homebuy schemes apply to social tenants in Wales.

Yvette Cooper: The Social, Open Market and New Build HomeBuy schemes operate in England to help social tenants, key workers and other priority first time buyers into home ownership.
	Housing in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department has a target for the number of Social HomeBuy sales between 2005 and 2010.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have not set a specific target for sales under the Social HomeBuy pilot scheme which runs until March 2008. Final numbers will be dependent on participation by local authorities and housing associations offering the scheme and the take up from tenants. The scheme is one of a range of options which aims to help social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers into home ownership.
	As announced in the Housing Green Paper: 'Homes for the future: more affordable', more sustainable on 23 July, we want to see the opportunity of Social HomeBuy offered more widely by landlords and we will announce further proposals later this year.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the business case for the National Register of Social Housing.

Iain Wright: The latest version of the business case for the National Register of Social Housing has been placed in the Library of the House, as requested.

Housing: Low Incomes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private developments have met the 50 per cent. affordable housing target since its inception, broken down by London borough.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally. The Mayor of London's 50 per cent. affordable housing target is a strategic target for London as a whole, and not a requirement for each individual planning application. Planning applications for housing development in London are primarily the responsibility of the boroughs, who consult the Mayor of London on a limited number of applications that raise issues of strategic importance.

Housing: Parking

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to the recommendations in Planning Policy Statement 3 on the minimum and maximum amount of car parking in new residential developments.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 July 2007,  Official Report, column1674W.

Housing: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of  (a) housing association and  (b) private sector housing within Peterborough constituency was judged to be unfit in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The percentage of  (a) housing association and  (b) private sector housing, within Peterborough, judged to be unfit in each year since 1997 is given in the following table. The data are as reported by the local authority.
	
		
			  Percentage of unfit dwellings within (a) housing association and (b) private sector housing, as reported by local authorities 
			  Percentage 
			   (a) HA  (b) Private sector 
			 1997 0.3 20.8 
			 1998 0.6 20.7 
			 1999 0.0 20.6 
			 2000 0.0 19.9 
			 2001 0.0 6.0 
			 2002 0.0 5.6 
			 2003 0.0 6.4 
			 2004 0.3 6.4 
			 2005 0.6 6.4 
			 2006 0.4 6.4 
			  Note: As reported by local authorities.  Source: Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return (HSSA).

Housing: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses were built by  (a) private sector companies,  (b) housing associations and  (c) the local authority within the Peterborough City Council area in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information is available only by the eventual tenure of the dwelling rather than by the group that built the dwellings.
	The following table tabulates the number of new build completions by tenure in Peterborough in each year since 1997-98 by tenure.
	
		
			  New Build Completions by Tenure, Peterborough 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Private Enterprise  Registered Social Landlords  Local Authority  Total 
			 1997-98 395 0 0 395 
			 1998-99 417 68 0 371 
			 1999-2000 554 8 0 370 
			 2000-01 341 0 0 214 
			 2001-02 334 66 0 311 
			 2002-03 509 2 0 511 
			 2003-04 619 30 0 649 
			 2004-05 747 77 0 824 
			 2005-06 835 49 0 884 
			 2006-07 1,031 180 0 1,211 
			  Source: Returns to CLG from local authorities and the NHBC.

Housing: Renewable Energy

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Valuation Office Agency's estimate is of the average increase in the capital value of a domestic dwelling from  (a) a small wind turbine and  (b) solar panels.

Parmjit Dhanda: No such estimate has been made.

Housing: Sales

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what number and proportion of homes sold each year are  (a) one or two,  (b) three and (c) four or more bedroomed properties.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government do not collect the data in the format requested. However for England we have made the following estimates based on data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey and HM Land Registry.
	
		
			  Estimated number and proportion of homes sold in 2006 by number of bedrooms 
			  Number of bedrooms  Properties sold  Proportion of all sales (percentage) 
			 One or two 458,991 37.5 
			 Three 535,599 43.8 
			 Four or more 228,370 18.7 
			 Total 1,222,960 100.0

Housing: Sewers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the planning procedure is relating to  (a) drainage and  (b) sewerage for new housing developments in (i) England and (ii) Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1665W.
	Planning procedures in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Housing: Unique Property Reference Number

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many domestic dwellings in England have a unique property reference number.

Iain Wright: The unique property reference number (UPRN) is maintained by the Improvement and Development Agency in the National Land and Property Gazetteer. It is not for Communities and Local Government to comment on the content of the National Land and Property Gazetteer. Further information on the National Land and Property Gazetteer can be found on the internet at www.nlpg.org.uk

Housing: Waiting Lists

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were on waiting lists for homes in Peterborough in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The number of households on the waiting list for social housing in Peterborough in each year since 1997, as at 1 April each year, is tabled as follows and also published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600. For future reference purposes, the link for this table is as follows:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/embedded_object.asp?id=l163853
	
		
			  Number of households on the waiting list (excludes households looking for transfers)( 3) 
			  Peterborough UA  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  2,634 2,921 3,129 3,347 3.072 2,648 2,113 4,853 6,044 6,287 
			  Note: As reported by local authorities.  Source: Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix Return (HSSA) 
		
	
	Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get onto the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house—particularly where the priority system is heavily based on waiting time. The size of the waiting list is not an indicator of absolute need, it is only useful as a broad indicator of housing demand in an area.

Land Use

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to prevent land banking by housing developers.

Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government's Green Paper "Homes for the future: more affordable more sustainable" (July 2007) describes the steps that we have already taken through the development control process to encourage developers to utilise land for building homes more swiftly. We have said that we will consider whether further measures are needed. We have also proposed to explore further how to ensure consistent and comprehensive declaration of developers' total residential land holdings within their accounts.
	The Callcutt Review of House Building Delivery, which we expect to receive later this year, will examine the acquisition, holding and disposal of land for house building, and the influence of land supply on levels of house building production. In addition, the Office of Fair Trading has announced a market study into house building in the UK. The study, expected to report in summer 2008, will consider whether land which is suitable for new homes is being brought forward for development. We will consider land banking further in the context of these wider reviews.

Land Use: Public Sector

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Department has lead responsibility for maintaining the Register of Surplus Public Sector Land.

Iain Wright: The Register of Surplus Public Sector Land was set up in 2003. It is managed by English Partnerships on behalf of Communities and Local Government and in collaboration with other Government Departments, their sponsored bodies and other public sector organisations.
	The register provides a single reference point for all participating public sector organisations on the nationally available supply of surplus land. It helps to ensure that wider Government objectives, including housing needs and regional economic and housing strategies, are factored into land disposal decisions. The register identifies land held by central Government and its agencies that is surplus to operational requirements, and allows a 40 day period for public bodies to express an interest in this land before it is placed on the market.

Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to amend the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 during the course of 2007.

John Healey: We have asked the Standards Board for England to monitor the operation of the revised code of conduct for members following its implementation in April 2007, and to make recommendations, as it sees fit, about any further revision with effect from April 2008.

Local Authorities: Finance

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities had their bid for disabled facilities grant capital allocation for 2007-08 not met in full; what criteria are applied to decide the proportion of bid met; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: In 2007-08 216 local authorities (LAs) in England did not have their bid for Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding in full. Despite substantially increasing the Government funding available for the national DFG programme, from £57 million in 1997 to £126 million in 2007-08, there is still considerable demand for the grant.
	The national budget is divided up between the regions using a formula which takes into account data from the English House Condition Survey on the number of disabled people in each region living in unsuitable housing and a regional building cost index.
	Government offices (GOs) are responsible for overseeing the allocation of DFG resources. In order to assist the GOs in this process the department supplied them with the LA bid for DFG funds and a local needs indicator, which is the number of individuals in each LA in receipt of either disability living allowance or attendance allowance. The GOs take these factors into account and balance them with any local data or information which they think is relevant in order to allocate DFG resources.

Local Authorities: Finance

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will publish the Government's response to the consultation on the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme: the Government's proposals to improve programme delivery.

Iain Wright: The summary of responses to the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme consultation was published on the Department's website on 13 August 2007, please see following weblink:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/facilitiesprogrammegovernmentspr.

Local Authorities: Finance

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requests she has received from  (a) Bassetlaw District Council,  (b) Nottinghamshire County Council and  (c) Manton Neighbourhood Renewal Pathfinder for inclusion in the participatory budgeting pilot.

John Healey: During 2006, members of the Manton Community Alliance, the delivery body for the Manton Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder, attended two workshops on participatory budgeting (PB) run by the Participatory Budgeting Unit (PB Unit), run by Church Action on Poverty, and part funded by the Department.
	Early in 2007, following these seminars and further discussions, the Manton Community Alliance invited the PB Unit to make a presentation to their board on developing a PB pilot in Manton. In May 2007, the Manton Community Alliance Board voted to develop a PB project and engaged with the PB Unit to assist in this process.

Local Authorities: Population Studies

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from which local authorities her Department has received representations on the Government's estimation of their populations; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government receive representations from local authorities about the data used in the local government finance settlements, including the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) population estimates and population projections.
	In this context, Communities and Local Government has received specific representations regarding the ONS population data from the following 45 authorities, including two police authorities and two fire and rescue authorities:
	Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Bristol, Calderdale, Corby, Cumbria, Derby, Durham (CC), Haling, East Lindsey, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Enfield, Gateshead, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Lambeth, Leeds, Leicester, Lewisham, Luton, Merton, Milton Keynes, Newham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumbria Police, Norwich, Oldham, Pendle, Plymouth, Redbridge, Rushmoor, Sheffield, Slough, South Cambridgeshire, South Yorkshire Fire, South Yorkshire police, Southwark, Sunderland, Telford and The Wrekin, Tyne and Wear Fire, Westminster.
	Questions on the accuracy and calculation of the population statistics are a matter for the ONS.

Local Government Finance Funding Changes Independent Inquiry

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether representatives of her Department made any written submission or representation to the Lyons Inquiry on local government.

John Healey: No formal written submissions or representations were made to the Lyons Inquiry on local government on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or Communities and Local Government.

Local Government: Equal Pay

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has  (a) to offer financial support to local government for equal pay between men and women and  (b) to promote equal pay in local government; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Equal pay is not a new pressure on local government and we expect local authorities to manage it proactively and affordably. We have given local authorities greater flexibility in dealing with this pressure by amending the capital finance regulations, and have also revised the process of equal pay capitalisation. On 28 September I announced the allocation of £500 million equal pay capitalisation directions to 46 authorities, giving them the financial flexibility to make one-off back-payments to thousands of employees—mostly women.
	Local authorities, as employers, are responsible for meeting their statutory requirements, including the Gender Equality Duty and their obligations under the Equal Pay Act.

Ordnance Survey Agency: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officers are employed by the Ordnance Survey Agency.

Iain Wright: Ordnance Survey employs two press officers.

Planning Inspectorate: Appeals

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many appeals the Planning Inspectorate has ruled on in the last 24 months related to development on floodplains.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Planning: Greenbelt

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the Town and Country Planning (Residential Development on Greenfield Land) (England) Direction 2000 was cancelled.

Iain Wright: The Town and Country Planning (Residential Development on Greenfield Land) (England) Direction 2000 was introduced as a transitional measure on the introduction of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: 'Housing' in March 2000.
	Planning Policy Statement 3: 'Housing' (PPS3) published in November 2006 introduced a new and less restrictive approach to the supply of land for housing, in order to help us achieve the step change in delivery we need to provide an increase in the supply of new homes. Local authorities are required to have a rolling five-year supply of land for housing, giving priority to the release of brownfield land. The national target is that 60 per cent. of housing development should be on brownfield land.
	PPS 3 gives local authorities the responsibility for deciding the most suitable location for housing, taking account of their local circumstances and the availability of deliverable brownfield sites. It is no longer appropriate therefore to require them to refer larger greenfield sites to the Secretary of State as the Greenfield Land Direction did, and to keep this requirement in place would mean that it takes longer to make decisions on planning applications which could delay the delivery of necessary new housing on suitable sites.

Planning: Publications

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on printing hard copies of  (a) the 2007 Housing Green Paper,  (b) the 2007 Planning White Paper and  (c) the 2007 Sub-National Review document; and how many copies were printed of each.

Iain Wright: The information is as follows:
	 2007 Housing Green Paper
	In line with the requirements on the supply of command papers we printed 600 copies for The Stationery Office (TSO) plus 4,550 additional copies at a cost of £11,712.
	 2007 Planning White Paper
	In line with the requirements on the supply of command papers we printed 650 copies for The Stationery Office (TSO) plus 5,950 additional copies at a cost of £17,779.
	 2007 Sub-National Review document
	This was published by HM Treasury and no printing costs were incurred by Communities and Local Government.

Power Stations: Floods

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the provisions of the new PPS25 on development on flood plains apply to the development of power generation infrastructure, including electricity sub-stations.

Iain Wright: Yes. Power generation infrastructure, including electricity sub-stations is included in PPS25, table D2 Flood Risk Vulnerability Classification. They are defined as 'essential infrastructure' as it is acknowledged that power stations and grid and primary substations may need to be located in flood risk areas. This is because power stations often need a ready supply of water and sub-stations need to be located near to the communities they supply. The PPS25 sequential test will ensure that they are located in low risk areas where possible, but where there are no alternative lower risk locations for this type of development then the exception test will ensure that they are safe.
	Recent flood events during the summer have highlighted the importance of essential infrastructure being protected during flood events and PPS25 aims to ensure that any new electricity infrastructure that is essential in areas at risk of flooding is designed and constructed to be operational during floods.

Public Sector Relocation Independent Review

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1679W, on the Public Sector Relocation Independent Review, whether her Department has destroyed any documents relating to the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government since the transfer of the documents from the inquiry to the responsibility of her Department.

John Healey: No.

QE2 Conference Centre: Information Officers

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officers are employed by the QE2 Conference Centre.

Iain Wright: As at 1 April 2007 there were no press officers employed by the QE2 Conference Centre. The QE2 Conference Centre does employ a marketing officer.

Regional Assemblies: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for how long the regional assemblies outside London will receive central Government grant.

Iain Wright: The review of sub-national economic development and regeneration, published on 17 July 2007, made clear reformed regional development agencies will in due course assume responsibility for a single integrated regional strategy. The timing of this is dependent on the necessary legislation.
	In the meantime, regional assemblies will continue to receive central Government grant to enable them to carry out their responsibilities as regional planning bodies, to exercise regional housing board functions and to scrutinise RDAs' regional economic strategies.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the change in funding will be for regional development agencies when they are designated as regional planning bodies.

Iain Wright: Funding for regional development agencies for the next three years will be determined through their forthcoming comprehensive spending review settlement. The level and timing of any additional funding in relation to additional planning functions will be dependent on the measures set out in the legislation necessary to enable the regional development agencies to assume these functions.

Regional Government

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of  (a) sub-national and  (b) sub-regional governance.

John Healey: The Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration was published on 17 July 2007. For the purpose of the Review, "sub-national" was taken to include regional, sub-regional and local levels. Sub-regional governance in this context refers to any arrangement involving more than one, but fewer than every, local authority in a single region (as defined in the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, Schedule 1—Regions).

Regional Planning and Development

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local authorities will have the power  (a) to veto and  (b) to amend the new integrated regional spatial strategies of the regional development agencies.

Iain Wright: Details of how the new integrated regional spatial strategies will be developed and agreed following a consultation exercise. A consultation paper to assist this will be published later this year.

Regional Planning and Development

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the publication of the new integrated regional strategies; and how the roll-out of the existing regional spatial strategies will be affected;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the transfer of responsibilities on regional planning from regional assemblies to regional development agencies;
	(3)  whether primary or secondary legislation will be required to designate the regional development agencies as regional planning bodies.

John Healey: The Government will consult on the Single Regional Strategy later this year, as indicated in the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration. This will require primary legislation to transfer regional planning responsibilities from the Regional Assembly to the Regional Development Agency; implementation is not expected before 2010.
	The existing RSSs will not be affected by the timetable for the publication of the new Single Regional Strategies.

Rights of Way

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 752W, on rights of way, whether the Independent Planning Commission will be required to undertake consultation with  (a) the public and  (b) user groups to ascertain whether alternative rights of way are being provided or the current rights of way are not needed.

Iain Wright: Further to the answer given to the hon. Member on 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 752W, the Infrastructure Planning Commission will only take decisions about closure and/or diversion of public rights of way, where this is requested in an application for the development of a nationally significant infrastructure project. Any applications made to Infrastructure Planning Commission will be judged in a public and transparent manner as set in chapter 5, paragraphs 5.21—5.38 of "Planning for a Sustainable Future" (cm 7120). This process contains public consultation at its heart, and all interested parties will be able to submit their evidence to the examination.

South East England Regional Assembly: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press officers are employed by the South East England Regional Assembly.

Iain Wright: The South East England Regional Assembly employs no dedicated press officers. Work on press releases and press inquiries is shared between three staffing its multidisciplinary communications team who manage public consultations, opinion research and community involvement in respect of the Assembly's strategic planning, housing and transport responsibilities across 74 local authority areas and a population of over eight million people. In addition, they manage the Assembly's publications and websites, IT support, internal communications and external communications including press inquiries and press releases. The work on press releases and press inquiries is equivalent to 1.3 full-time press officers.

Stakeholder Advisory Panel on Home Buying and Selling

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates the Stakeholder Advisory Panel on Home Buying and Selling has met.

Yvette Cooper: The Stakeholder Advisory Panel on Home Buying and Selling met on the 25 July 2007.

Structure Plans

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what adopted structure plans are in force in each  (a) region and  (b) county; and what the date is (i) of their adoption and (ii) on which they cease to be part of the development plan under current legislation.

Yvette Cooper: Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, all structure plans lapsed on the 27 September 2007, unless they were adopted in September 2004, in which case they will lapse three years from their date of adoption.
	Regional planning bodies can make an application to save individual structure plan policies, to be saved after the lapse of the structure plan.
	The Secretary of State decided which individual structure plan policies will be saved by the 27 September 2007
	The current status of adopted structure plans by region are detailed as follows:
	 North East
	County Durham Structure Plan adopted 1999, Northumberland Joint Structure Plan adopted in 1995 and Tees Valley Structure Plan adopted 2004 will all expire on 27 September 2007
	 Yorkshire and Humber
	Humberside Structure Plan (adopted in 1987, alteration 1993). Superseded by Hull and East Riding Joint Structure Plan (as follows) for those two districts but will remain part of the statutory development plan for North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire until 27 September 2007.
	North Yorkshire and York Joint Structure Plan adopted 1995—remains part of the development plan until 27 September 2007.
	Hull and East Riding Joint Structure Plan adopted June 2005 and will remain part of the statutory development plan until June 2008.
	 North West
	Lakes District/Cumbria Structure Plan adopted April 2005 will expire April 2008.
	Cheshire Structure Plan adopted December 2005 will expire December 2008.
	Joint Lancashire Structure Plan adopted in May 2005 will expire May 2008.
	 South West
	Joint Replacement Structure Plan (Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council) Structure Plan adopted in 2002 and due to expire on 27 September 2007.
	Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Structure Plan adopted in July 2000 and due to expire on 27 September 2007.
	Cornwall Structure Plan adopted on September 2004, due to expire on 27 September 2007.
	Devon Structure Plan (Devon City Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and Dartmoor National Park) adopted on October 2004 and due to expire in October 2007
	Gloucestershire Structure Plan adopted on November 1999 and due to expire on 27 September 2007.
	Somerset and Exmoor National Park Structure Plan adopted in April 2000 and due to end on 27 September 2007.
	Wiltshire Structure Plan 2001-11 adopted in 2001 and due to end on 27 September 2007.
	Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan adopted in April 2006 and due to expire in April 2009.
	 South East
	East Sussex/Brighton and Hove Structure Plan adopted 1999, Buckinghamshire Structure Plan and the Hampshire Structure Plan adopted 2000 will all expire on the 27 September 2007.
	Kent/Medway Structure Plan adopted in July 2006 will expire July 2009.
	Surrey Structure Plan adopted in December 2004 will expire December 2007.
	Oxfordshire Structure Plan adopted in October 2005 will expire October 2008.
	Berkshire Structure Plan adopted July 2005 will expire July 2008.
	West Sussex Structure Plan adopted October 2004 will expire October 2007.
	 East Midlands
	Northamptonshire Structure Plan adopted in March 2001, Derby and Derbyshire Joint Structure Plan adopted January 2001 and the Peak District National Park Structure Plan adopted in April 1994 will all expire on the 27 September 2007.
	Nottinghamshire Joint Structure Plan adopted in February 2006 will expire February 2009.
	Lincolnshire Structure Plan adopted in September 2006 will expire September 2009.
	Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Structure Plan adopted March 2005 will expire March 2008.
	 West Midlands
	Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Structure Plan adopted May 2001, Warwickshire Structure Plan adopted August 2001, Worcestershire Structure Plan adopted June 2001 and Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Structure Plan adopted November 2002 will all expire on the 27 September 2007.
	 East of England
	Bedfordshire Structure Plan adopted March 1997, Cambridgeshire Structure Plan adopted December 1995, Cambridgeshire/Peterborough Structure Plan adopted October 2003, Essex/Southend Structure Plan adopted April 2001, Hertfordshire Structure Plan adopted April 1998, Norfolk Structure Plan adopted October 1999 and Suffolk Structure Plan adopted June 2001 will all expire on the 27 September 2007.

Structure Plans

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to reach a decision on the savings of policies from those structure plans in each  (a) region and  (b) county which cease to have effect from September under current legislation; and if she will publish on the appropriate Government Regional Office website a list of policies to be saved in each case.

Yvette Cooper: The Secretary of State made a direction on which policies in existing adopted structure plans will be extended on 27 September 2007.
	These decisions were made public.

Valuation Office

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil penalties have been issued for failing to provide the Valuation Office Agency with information to value properties for business rates.

John Healey: Since 18 September 2003 when they were first introduced, 6,585 civil penalty notices have been issued for failure to provide information requested for non-domestic rating purposes under Paragraph 5 of Schedule 9 to the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended by the Local Government Act 2003).

Valuation Office: Expenditure

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the expenditure by the Valuation Office Agency was in relation to conducting a non-domestic rating assessment of the Big Brother house at Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

John Healey: Individual costs relating to the review of a specific property for non-domestic rating are not recorded, nor could they be derived at reasonable cost.

Valuebill XML Schema

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Valuebill XML schema.

John Healey: The latest versions (v4.0) of the Valuebill XML schemas are publicly available on
	http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/schemasstandards/schemalibrary_schema.asp?schemaid:=256

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Armed Forces

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the strength and capabilities of the  (a) Afghan National Army,  (b) Afghan National Police and  (c) Afghan Auxiliary Police Force.

Des Browne: The Afghan National Army has approximately 40,000 trained and equipped soldiers and is capable of joint combat operations alongside the international forces deployed in Afghanistan. The Afghan National Police (ANP) is currently 76,000 strong. It is augmented by the 6,000-strong Afghan National Auxiliary Police. Overall, the level of capability is less advanced in the Afghan police services than in the Army.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures will be taken to ensure that forward operating bases in Afghanistan are kept supplied with necessary provisions during winter; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Throughout the winter, forward operating bases (includes patrol bases) in Afghanistan will continue to be supplied in the regular and routine manner in which they have been during other months. Additional measures will be taken to ensure British forces are prepared for the winter conditions. These measures will include issuing a winter clothing supplement, measures to protect vehicles and equipment, infrastructure checks, and reviews of stock holdings.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the primary method of transport is for supplies into the Afghan theatre.

Bob Ainsworth: There is no primary method of transporting supplies into the Afghanistan theatre of operation. The UK employs a range of routes via land and air to move supplies into the country.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of theft have been reported on British military supplies during transit from the port of debarkation in Pakistan to the final destination in Afghanistan since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: Since October 2006 eight reports of theft have been confirmed. A number of other losses are being investigated, but the exact detail and circumstances of those losses have yet to be confirmed. Information on the number of reported thefts before October 2006 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many attacks have been made on UK forces in Afghanistan in each month since October 2006.

Des Browne: The table records the number of attacks instigated by enemy forces on UK forces in Regional Command (South) in Afghanistan. Attack levels will vary according to seasonal factors, planned enemy activity and the operational tempo and movements of UK forces.
	
		
			   Number 
			  2006  
			 October 156 
			 November 126 
			 December 118 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 106 
			 February 121 
			 March 181 
			 April 52 
			 May 103 
			 June 127 
			 July 126 
			 August 143

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the new aircraft carriers will be based.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 871, in which I confirmed that the new aircraft carriers are to be base-ported in Portsmouth.

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that any cooperation with France in order to reduce costs will not result in a delay for the introduction of the new aircraft carriers.

Bob Ainsworth: We have always made it clear that for cooperation with France to work it must deliver cost savings and must do so without delaying the UK or French carrier programmes.

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many type 45 destroyers will be procured in order to provide escort security to the UK's new aircraft carriers.

Bob Ainsworth: Several types of vessels will provide escort and security for the aircraft carriers, and the numbers employed will vary according to the threat faced. There are many variables involved in determining the number of ships required to defend a carrier or amphibious task group. These include the level of the threat, the level of multinational involvement and the type and scale of the operation. We currently have a contract for six type 45 destroyers.

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected cost is of each of the future aircraft carriers.

Des Browne: The project to provide two future aircraft carriers is currently expected to cost £3.9 billion. There is agreement and a scheme of incentives, however, to work with industry to reduce this before a final price is settled by 2010.

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the former target in-service dates of 2012 and 2015 have been replaced by 2014 and 2016 respectively for each of the future aircraft carriers.

Des Browne: In-service dates are not set until Main Gate, when the project is mature enough for us to take a view on the appropriate date. That point was reached in July and the dates (2014 and 2016) have been set.

Armed Forces: Culture

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources his Department provides for the cultural education of personnel when deployed overseas.

Bob Ainsworth: Cultural awareness training is an integral part of pre-deployment training for all personnel undertaking overseas operations. In mature theatres cultural awareness training is continued through education centres. Additionally, literature is available via a number of internal websites, and units are provided with material in CD and DVD formats to widen accessibility.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK personnel are deployed on operations, broken down by location.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the number of personnel deployed on operations by operation and location at 9 September 2007.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by operation and location( 1) 
			  Operation  Number 
			 Total 14,200 
			  Of which:  
			 Telic 6,120 
			  Of which:  
			 Iraq 5,030 
			 Qatar 460 
			 At Sea 350 
			 Oman 200 
			 Bahrain 60 
			 Kuwait 20 
			   
			 Herrick 7,550 
			  Of which:  
			 Afghanistan 7,540 
			   
			 Oculus 190 
			  Of which:  
			 Kosovo 160 
			 Bosnia 20 
			   
			 UN 320 
			  Of which:  
			 Cyprus 290 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately.  Note: Countries with fewer than 10 personnel are not shown.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK military units have been on operations outside the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 95W, to the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. Fraser). Further detail and breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Single Living Accommodation units were upgraded to Standard One in each financial year since 1997.

Des Browne: The number of Single Living Accommodation bed spaces that have been upgraded to our highest standard 'Grade One for Condition' in each financial year since 2001 is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002-03 988 
			 2003-04 3,347 
			 2004-06 5,816 
			 2005-06 5,539 
			 2006-07 5,822 
		
	
	Records prior to 1 October 2001 are not held in a comparable format.

Armed Forces: Personnel Management

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the Joint Personnel Administration system;
	(2)  how many complaints he received from military personnel about the Joint Personnel Administration system in each month since December 2006.

Derek Twigg: Since December 2006, 1,032 complaints had been received from armed forces personnel via the centralised JPA complaints process about mispayments and other apparent problems with pay, or the handling of queries. The following table shows the breakdown of these by month:
	
		
			   Number of complaints 
			 December 2006 61 
			 January 2007 98 
			 February 2007 105 
			 March 2007 94 
			 April 2007 78 
			 May 2007 126 
			 June 2007 204 
			 July 2007 150 
			 August 2007 116

Armed Forces: Suicide

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the incidence of suicide by  (a) serving members of the armed forces,  (b) serving members of the armed forces who have served in a theatre of conflict and  (c) former members of the armed forces was in each year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has centrally compiled and verified records of coroner-confirmed suicides and open verdict deaths that have occurred among UK regular Service personnel while in service during the period 1984 to 2006. The information is summarised in the following table .
	Information is also available on regular service personnel who were deployed to the conflicts in the Gulf (September 1990 to June 1991), Iraq (January 2003 to December 2006) and Afghanistan (October 2005 to December 2006), and have since died in service of coroner-confirmed suicide or open verdict deaths.
	Information on suicides and open verdict deaths that may have occurred to service personnel after discharge from the services is not currently available.
	
		
			  Suicides and open verdict deaths( 1) , UK regular armed forces, 1984  to 2 006 
			   All regular personnel  Regular personnel who had served on operations overseas ( 2, 3) 
			 Total 696 77 
			 1984 27 — 
			 1985 30 — 
			 1986 44 — 
			 1987 27 — 
			 1988 41 — 
			 1989 36 — 
			 1990 50 — 
			 1991 48 10 
			 1992 37 9 
			 1993 43 6 
			 1994 35 3 
			 1995 43 6 
			 1996 31 6 
			 1997 26 3 
			 1998 19 4 
			 1999 27 3 
			 2000 36 3 
			 2001 15 1 
			 2002 14 3 
			 2003 25 7 
			 2004 19 7 
			 2005 19 4 
			 2006 4 2 
			 (1) The figures provided do not include any violent or unnatural deaths that have not yet been fully investigated by a coroner (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or the Procurator Fiscal (Scotland). (2) Regular personnel who had served on operations overseas may have died while overseas or at any time after their return. (3) Regular personnel who had served on operations overseas in the Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan

Armed Forces: Young People

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the minimum age of entry into the UK armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The minimum age of entry into the UK armed forces is 16 years. The services provide challenging and constructive training and employment to many young people and enable them to learn valuable transferable skills. In financial year 2006-07, 30 per cent. of all new recruits were under 18 years of age.
	No young person under the age of 18 years may join the armed forces unless the application is accompanied by the formal written consent of his or her parents or guardian. Throughout the recruit selection process, the staffs at the Armed Forces Careers Offices (AFCO) provide comprehensive written and verbal guidance to all potential recruits, in particular those under 18 years of age and their parents or guardians, regarding their terms and conditions of service, the commitments that they would be undertaking, and their rights to discharge.
	Defence policy is that service personnel under the age of 18 are not to be deployed on any operations outside of the UK that would result in them becoming engaged in, or exposed to, hostilities. In addition, in line with UN policy service personnel under 18 are not to be deployed on UN peacekeeping operations.

Army Board: Official Cars

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether wives and partners of non-ministerial members of the Army Board are allowed to use official cars.

Derek Twigg: In accordance with established rules covering both service and civilian staff, non ministerial members of the Army Board using official cars for official purposes may be accompanied by their spouses, where appropriate. A spouse may also use official transport free of charge when travelling to represent their partner at official ceremonial and formal functions or where special transport is required for medical appointments.

Army Board: Uniforms

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of providing dress uniforms for all military members of the Army Board in the latest period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: For the purpose of this question, dress uniform has been taken to mean the blue frock coat, great coat and trousers (overalls), worn by certain personnel, including members of the Army Board, as well as Number 1 Dress.
	The blue frock coat, great coat and trousers (overalls), are pool items and not the personal property of the General Officer. They are returned on cessation of the entitlement to wear them. The total cost of purchasing one set of these items is approximately £1,900.
	The purchase of Number 1 Dress is an individual responsibility for which an allowance of up to £463 is paid to entitled officers, provided that no such allowance has been paid in the previous 12 years. Additionally, there are grants available to officers on promotion to cover the cost of new rank insignia, which is also purchased by individual officers. At the higher echelons, these grants are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Major General 213.00 
			 Lieutenant General 11.00 
			 General 11.00 
			 Field Marshal 110.00

Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) inflow into and  (b) outflow from the infantry was in each of the last 12 months.

Derek Twigg: Officers are only allocated a regiment on completion of their commissioning course at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), hence officer intake figures have not been provided.
	The following table shows the Regular Army soldier untrained intake figures for the infantry during the 12 months prior to March 2007.
	
		
			  Inflow 
			  Flow during  Total inflow 
			  2006  
			 March 220 
			 April 280 
			 May 310 
			 June 180 
			 July 290 
			 August 540 
			 September 680 
			 October 320 
			 November 300 
			 December 10 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 650 
			 February 260 
			 Total 4,030 
			  Notes: 1. The inflow figures are for UK Regular soldiers only. They exclude full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. 2. The data are based on the number of soldiers joining the untrained strength of the infantry during the period 1 March 2006 and 28 February 2007. The figures also include untrained soldiers returning from being long-term illegally absent. 3. UK Regular forces includes nursing services and excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Homes Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel. 4. All data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the rounding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. Numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 5. Due to ongoing data validation following the introduction of the new joint personnel administration (JPA) system, there is no information after March 2007 currently available. 
		
	
	The following table shows the outflow to civil life from the infantry of trained and untrained Regular Army officers and other ranks during the 12 months prior to March 2007.
	
		
			  Outflow 
			  Flow during  Total outflow 
			  2006  
			 March 360 
			 April 480 
			 May 380 
			 June 490 
			 July 360 
			 August 370 
			 September 400 
			 October 440 
			 November 420 
			 December 300 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 450 
			 February 470 
			 Total 4,930 
			  Notes: 1. Figures show all outflow from UK Regular Army forces to civil life including recalled reservists on release and outflow to the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment from the infantry. The figures exclude outflow of illegal absentees i.e. those personnel removed from the reported strength of the Army having been deemed long-term illegally absent. 2. UK Regular forces includes nursing services and excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Homes Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel. 3. All data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the rounding methods used, totals may not always equal the sum of the parts. Numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 4. Due to ongoing data validation following the introduction of the new joint personnel administration (JPA) system, there is no information after March 2007 currently available.

Army: Official Hospitality

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last 12 months servicemen have been used to serve at functions for Guards Officers.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Aviation Repair Agency: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by the Defence Aviation Repair Agency.

Derek Twigg: One.

Defence Communications Services Agency: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by the Defence Communications Services Agency.

Derek Twigg: The Defence Communication Services Agency (DCSA) ceased to exist on 6 April 2007, when it was absorbed into the Defence Equipment and Support organisation. As at April 2007, Directorate General Information Systems and Services, the part of Defence Equipment and Support which carries out the functions of the former DCSA, employed one full time press officer. This individual also performs general public relations and community liaison duties.

Defence Estates: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by Defence Estates.

Derek Twigg: As at 1 April 2007, one press officer was employed by Defence Estates.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory: Information Officers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by the  (a) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and  (b) UK Hydrographic Office.

Derek Twigg: Dstl employs two people in press officer roles. The Hydrographic Office has two people who carry out some press officer duties as part of their wider communications roles.

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legislative provisions introduced by his Department since 1997 have been repealed.

Derek Twigg: The MOD has been responsible for the introduction of four Acts since 1997 of which all remain in force.

Departments: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2007,  Official Report, column 879W, on Departments: non-departmental public bodies, why the Fleet Air Arm Museum is classified as a public corporation.

Derek Twigg: The decision to classify the Fleet Air Arm Museum as a public corporation is a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics. However I understand that it was based on the fact that more than 50 per cent. of the museum's operating costs are met by market income.

Departments: Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his official engagements were in the week of 16th to 21st July.

Des Browne: From 16 to 19 July I was in London where I had various meetings, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and the Scotland Office. On Monday 16 July I also met with the British High Commissioner to Australia, answered oral questions on Defence issues in the House and attended a BBC Proms performance in support of Sailor, Soldier, Airman Family Association. On Tuesday, I attended Cabinet and appeared before the Scottish Affairs Committee for an oral evidence session on the Scotland Office Annual Report. That afternoon I also met representatives of Oracle Residential Ltd. to discuss defence accommodation issues. On Wednesday I met with the British High Commissioner to Pakistan. On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 July I was in my constituency in Scotland.

Duke of York's Royal Military School

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons funding for the Duke of York's Royal Military School's upgrade programme for boarding accommodations has been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Approximately four years ago funding was allocated to The Duke of York Royal Military school to build sixth form accommodation. Regrettably, plans were not finalised within the specified time frame and the money was reallocated to another project. However, The Duke of York Royal Military school is currently preparing a main gate business case to upgrade boarding accommodation at the school. If successful this would be for the financial year 2008-09.

EU Battle Groups

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the certification process is for UK military units participating in the EU battle groups; and who certifies them.

Des Browne: Before being part of any EU Battle Group package, nations are required to certify that their contribution meets the defined standards and criteria as set out in the EU Battle Group concept. As such, UK military units participating in an EU Battle Group are nationally certified following a number of Battle Group level exercises to assess and validate their competencies and readiness.

EU Battle Groups

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK  (a) brigade,  (b) battalions and  (c) companies formed the core of the EU battle group in the first half of 2005.

Des Browne: The UK commitment to provide a European Union battle group on standby from January to June 2005 was covered by the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. Once the characteristics of any appropriate EU operation were known, the most appropriate units would have been selected from those forming the Joint Rapid Reaction Force at the time. This included 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles as the Spearhead Land Element (replaced by 1st Battalion the Royal Green Jackets in April 2005, now 2nd Battalion The Rifles), and 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment who provided the airborne taskforce capability throughout.

EU Battle Groups

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when UK military units participating in EU battle groups have to be certified for the 2008 EU battle group.

Des Browne: Member states contributing to the EU battle group are required to certify one month in advance of the standby period that their battle group package meets the battle group standards and criteria. Any UK military units expected to participate in the UK commitment to provide an EU battle group on standby from July to December 2008 should therefore be certified by 1 June 2008.

Iraq: Armed Forces

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2007,  Official Report, columns 171-2W, on Iraq: armed forces, what changes were made to his Department's agreed plans as a result of the events described.

Des Browne: Working with the Iraqis, coalition planning evolved over time and was sufficiently flexible to respond to changing circumstances and conditions on the ground.

Iraq: Armed Forces

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the capabilities of the Iraqi  (a) army,  (b) navy,  (c) air force and  (d) police in Multi-National Division South East.

Des Browne: The capabilities of all branches of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in Multi-National Division (South-East) (MND(SE)), including the army, navy, air force and police, continue to develop. In the three provinces already handed over to the Iraqi authorities, they have proved themselves able to maintain security. In Basra, the Iraqi Army have successfully taken on responsibility for a number of former coalition bases in and around Basra city. The Government of Iraq have recently decided to increase ISF resources and manpower in MND(SE) by two Iraqi National Police Battalions and an additional Iraqi Army division.

Iraq: Armed Forces

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the capabilities of units in the 10th Division of the Iraqi Army to carry out autonomous operations.

Des Browne: 10 Division and its subordinate units continue to make good progress in strengthening their ability to operate autonomously, as demonstrated by recent operations, including the successful handover of UK bases in Basra city in September. The constituent brigades of 10 Division now operate autonomously in three of the four provinces in MND(SE): Dhi Qar, Al Muthanna and Maysan. However, there remains a requirement for advice and support from coalition forces to enhance current capabilities.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1285W, on Iraq: peace keeping operations, what assessment he made of advice provided by the former Attorney General on the interpretation of the definitions referred to in the answer in the context of the activities of UK armed forces in Iraq.

Des Browne: Legal advice given to Government (whether by the Law Officers or any other lawyer) is confidential and covered by legal professional privilege. In accordance with the long-standing convention, set out in the Ministerial Code and adhered to by successive governments, neither the fact that the Law Officers have (or have not) advised, nor the content of any advice given, is disclosed outside Government.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the number of UK troops based in Iraq fell below 44,000.

Des Browne: The number of UK military personnel in the Operation Telic area of operations fell below 44,000 in April 2003.

Military Aid: Floods

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the use of the armed forces to help tackle instances of flooding in England.

Bob Ainsworth: Over the last three years, the Ministry of Defence has received the following representations for military assistance from the civil authorities to help tackle instances of flooding in England:
	July 2007: Gloucestershire and Southern England;
	June 2007: Yorkshire and Humber region;
	January 2005: Carlisle;
	August 2004: Boscastle.
	In each case, the armed forces provided assistance to the civil authorities.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress on  (a) acquiring six Merlin helicopters from Denmark and  (b) converting eight Chinook helicopters;
	(2)  when he expects the  (a) six Merlin helicopters from Denmark and  (b) the eight Chinook helicopters currently being converted to be operational.

Bob Ainsworth: The six Merlin helicopters arrived in the UK in July 2007. These aircraft are currently being configured to UK standards, and are expected to be operational by 31 March 2008. Two aircraft have been delivered to RAF Benson, where air and ground crew training is now under way.
	With regard to the conversion of the eight Chinook MK3 helicopters, an initial contract was placed with Boeing on 1 August. On current plans we expect to see the aircraft delivered by the end of 2009.

Military Exercises: Finance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget was for military training exercises in each year since 1997; and what the estimated budget is for each of the next three years.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Navy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the Royal Navy will make to the EU Headline Goal 2010 and interim targets for 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: The Headline Goal Questionnaire (HGQ) 2006 details those forces which potentially could be made available for use on EU-led operations. Copies of the HGQ were placed in the Library of the House on 22 June 2007.
	There are no interim targets for 2008.

Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what percentage of British military personnel do not live in permanent buildings in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan;
	(2)  how many British military personnel are housed in tents in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq.

Bob Ainsworth: The protection of our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is of an extremely high priority and a number of improvements have been made, and will continue to be made, to accommodation in both theatres in order to enhance security.
	I am withholding information on force protection arrangements at our bases in Iraq and Afghanistan as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Reserve Forces: Driving

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 38WS, on Drivers' Hours (Derogation for Reservists), if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines developed by his Department.

Bob Ainsworth: Formal internal MOD instructions for reservists who may be affected by this amended legislation were developed jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Transport, and issued in April 2007. All Reserve Units were notified through the chain of command in the normal manner, and employers were made aware of this via the Supporting Britain's Reservists (SaBRE) campaign. This document has been available on the SaBRE website since 10 April, at the following location:
	http://www.sabre.mod.uk/output/Page532.asp.
	I will place a printed copy of the guidelines in the Library of the House.

UK Hydrographic Office

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of the Office of Fair Trading report on Commercial Use of Public Sector Information to the UK Hydrographic Office.

Derek Twigg: I expect the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to participate fully in the further work identified in the Government response. This includes the provision of information to HM Treasury's economic study. The study, which is being conducted by Cambridge University, aims to provide cost and benefit information for possible alternative models of supply and charging for public sector information by Trading Funds. The completed study is due to be submitted to Government in mid November 2007.
	The UKHO will also, if requested by DBERR and HMT, provide input to their work on the economics of information pricing.
	The recommendations included in the market study report will be used to inform licensing policy following completion of the review of the UKHO's structure and ownership. I expect to announce the outcome of the review early in 2008.

UK Hydrographic Office

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of the economic review of trading funds to the UK Hydrographic Office.

Derek Twigg: I assume that this question refers to the Government response to the Power of Information report (recommendations 9, 10 and 12). The Government intend to undertake independent economic work on the costs and benefits of the current trading fund charging model. As one of the five largest trading funds, I expect the UKHO to respond positively to any requests received for information to support this work.

UK Hydrographic Office

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the review of the UK Hydrographic Office is expected to be published.

Derek Twigg: I commissioned a study of the structure and ownership options for the UK Hydrographic Office which will report to me by the end of the year. I will make a statement to the House in due course.

UK Hydrographic Office

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions Ministers and officials in his Department working on the review of the UK Hydrographic Office have had with HM Treasury on the recently commissioned economic review of trading funds.

Derek Twigg: In response to the OFT review of Public Information, and the Cabinet Office Power of Information Review, HM Treasury have commissioned work to assess the economic benefit from information created by Trading Funds. HM Treasury officials have requested assistance from the Chief Executives of the Met Office and Hydrographic Office to support the study into availability and charging of public information. MOD officials over seeing the work of the MOD trading funds, including the UKHO ownership and structure options review, will be available to support the HM Treasury Study.

Veterans Agency: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers are employed by the Veterans Agency.

Derek Twigg: The Veterans Agency and the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency merged together on 2 April 2007 to form the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA). SPVA has two people who carry out press officer functions as part of their duties. They also undertake other tasks.

TRANSPORT

A15: Road Traffic

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average daily volume of traffic was between each junction of the A15 within the Peterborough City Council boundaries in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The annual average daily flow (AADF) data are available for every link of the A15 in the Peterborough local authority area. These links correspond to sections of the A15 between major junctions. Details of these links and their AADF data for all motor vehicles from 1997 to 2006 can be found in the following tables. The AADF data are rounded to the nearest 100 vehicles.
	
		
			  Census point (CP)  A-junction: start of road link  B-junction: end of road link 
			 6218 LA Boundary A1260 
			 77186 A1260 Phorpres Way roundabout 
			 36221 Phorpres Way roundabout A1129 
			 28020 A1129 A1129 
			 7995 A1129 A605 
			 16206 A605 A605 
			 46221 A605 Bishops Rd roundabout 
			 56220 Bishop's Rd roundabout A1179 
			 36222 A1179 Westfield Rd roundabout 
			 46222 Westfield rd roundabout Maskew Ave roundabout 
			 26221 Maskew Ave roundabout A47 
			 77182 A47 David's Lane roundabout 
			 28804 David's Lane roundabout B1443 
			 58363 A15 Werrington Parkway LA Boundary 
			 8679 B1443 A47 
		
	
	
		
			   AADF, all motor vehicles 
			  Census point (CP)  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 6218 13,800 14,300 13,500 13,400 13,700 14,000 16,400 16,500 15,700 16,100 
			 77186 5,300 5,300 5,300 5,400 5,300 5,400 5,300 5,400 6,200 6,100 
			 36221 5,800 5,800 5,800 6,000 5,800 5,900 5,800 5,900 6,900 6,700 
			 28020 7,900 8,000 8,000 8,100 7,900 8,000 9,400 9,500 9,200 9,100 
			 7995 8,200 7,300 7,300 7,300 7,200 7,500 7,400 7,400 7,200 7,100 
			 16206 23,100 23,400 24,600 24,100 24,500 24,400 24,300 24,300 23,800 23,900 
			 46221 34,300 34,600 34,400 35,000 35,600 35,600 35,400 35,400 34,700 34,800 
			 56220 35,500 35,700 35,500 34,800 33,800 33,700 33,500 33,400 32,700 32,900 
			 36222 41,000 41,200 38,700 37,900 38,500 41,100 40,800 38,000 37,200 37,500 
			 46222 24,900 25,000 24,900 24,400 26,000 26,000 25,900 25,800 25,300 25,400 
			 26221 31,700 31,900 31,700 31,100 31,600 33,000 32,900 32,800 34,700 34,800 
			 77182 28,600 28,700 28,700 29,000 28,200 28,800 28,100 32,700 31,500 27,200 
			 28804 16,100 16,500 17,400 17,200 16,300 16,700 17,200 17,600 17,600 18,000 
			 58363 17,500 17,700 18,100 12,300 12,400 13,300 13,600 15,100 15,100 14,300 
			 8679 19,700 20,200 20,500 13,800 14,700 15,100 13,300 14,100 13,800 14,000 
		
	
	AADF data are currently available from our website: www.dft.gov.uk/matrix/ for 1999-2005.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported contaminated air events there were in each of the last five years, broken down by aircraft type.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I am informed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) there have been 306 reportable occurrences involving contaminated air during the five year period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2006, and a further 72 reportable occurrences between 1 January and 30 June 2007—shown as follows:
	
		
			   Reportable occurrences 
			 2002 40 
			 2003 35 
			 2004 44 
			 2005 78 
			 2006 109 
			 Total 306 
			   
			 2007(1) 72 
			 (1) 1 January 2007 to 30 June 2007. 
		
	
	This number of occurrences is out of an estimated total of 6.5 million flights over the same period by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations. These annual totals are broken down by aircraft type in the following tables, specifically listing all aircraft types for which there were five or more reportable occurrences during that period.
	
		
			  Calendar year 2002 
			  Aircraft type  Reportable occurrences involving contaminated air 
			 Boeing 757 9 
			 De Havilland DHC8 8 
			 British Aerospace BAe146 5 
			 Embraer EMB 145 5 
			 Various other aircraft types 13 
			 Total 40 
			  Note: During the same period, there were 1.1 million flights carried out by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations. 
		
	
	
		
			  Calendar year 2003 
			  Aircraft type  Reportable occurrences involving contaminated air 
			 Boeing 757 12 
			 Various other aircraft types 23 
			 Total 35 
			  Note: During the same period, there were 1.1 million flights carried out by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations. 
		
	
	
		
			  Calendar year 2004 
			  Aircraft type  Reportable occurrences involving contaminated air 
			 Boeing 757 12 
			 British Aerospace BAe146 6 
			 Embraer EMB 145 6 
			 Various other aircraft types 20 
			 Total 44 
			  Note: During the same period, there were 1.2 million flights carried out by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations. 
		
	
	
		
			  Calendar year 2005 
			  Aircraft type  Reportable occurrences involving contaminated air 
			 Boeing 757 27 
			 British Aerospace BAe146 10 
			 Embraer EMB 145 9 
			 Airbus A319 6 
			 Airbus A320 5 
			 Boeing 737 5 
			 De Havilland DHC8 5 
			 Various other aircraft types 11 
			 Total 78 
			  Note: During the same period, there were 1.2 million flights carried out by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations. 
		
	
	
		
			  Calendar year 2006 
			  Aircraft type  Reportable occurrences involving contaminated air 
			 Boeing 757 43 
			 British Aerospace BAe146 17 
			 Airbus A319 10 
			 Embraer EMB 145 9 
			 Airbus A320 7 
			 Boeing 737 5 
			 Various other aircraft types 18 
			 Total 109 
			  Note: During the same period, there were 1.3 million flights carried out by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations. 
		
	
	
		
			  1 January to 30 June 2007 inclusive 
			  Aircraft type  Reportable occurrences involving contaminated air 
			 Boeing 757 26 
			 British Aerospace BAe146 11 
			 Airbus A319 8 
			 Airbus A320 7 
			 Various other aircraft types 20 
			 Total 72 
			  Note: Estimate 0.6 million flights by UK operators worldwide in public transport aeroplane operations.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on links between ill-health among air crew and fumes released from aircraft.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In 2006 the Department commissioned the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) to evaluate evidence submitted by the British Air Lines Pilots Association (BALPA) in relation to cabin air "fume events". The COT received information from oil companies, airlines, engine manufacturers, independent scientific experts and pressure groups. The COT reported on 20 September 2007. Its report is published on its website:
	www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/index.htm.
	The Committee on Toxicity considered that it was not possible to conclude whether cabin air exposures (either general or following incidents) cause ill-health in commercial aircraft crews. It recommended further work, in particular, and as a priority, to ascertain whether substances in the cabin environment could potentially be harmful to health. COT considered that this work should be designed to detect any potentially harmful substances, rather than focus on named substances.
	In keeping with its commitment to promoting healthy flying, the Department accepts this priority. Through the Aviation Health Working Group, it has recently made preparations for such a study by testing equipment which may be capable of capturing substances released during oil and hydraulic fluid fume incidents. Once effective equipment has been identified it is intended to sample around 1,000 flights using more than one sampling device, more than one laboratory to analyse the results, and an independent project manager from the academic world.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how compliance with Civil Aviation Authority guidance on the use of oxygen masks in air contamination incidents is monitored and enforced.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has advised that UK air operators whose aircraft are required to be fitted with oxygen equipment must provide guidance to crews on its use in air contamination incidents. This guidance must be retained in their Operations Manual which is checked in the course of normal oversight by the Flight Operations Inspector.
	Compliance with the guidance in the event of incidents will be monitored by routine review of Air Safety Reports and Mandatory Occurrence reports. Non-compliance would be raised formally with the aircraft operator, who would be required to propose and implement measures to ensure future compliance.

Airports: Police

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the review of those airports which are not designated for police purposes; and if she will list those airports where the police presence continues to be funded by the local police authority.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Independent Review of Airport Policing report was submitted to the Department for Transport and Home Office in July 2006. In his written statement of 20 July 2006,  Official Report, column 56WS, the Secretary of State welcomed the broad thrust of the review and outlined its key recommendations. His written statement of 14 June 2007,  Official Report, column 63WS, provided an update on the subsequent work.
	The funding arrangements for airports are dependent on whether an airport is designated under section 25 of the Aviation Security Act 1982. There are nine designated airports which are London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow International, Glasgow Prestwick, Birmingham and Manchester. All remaining airports are funded wholly or partly by the local police authority, or by other means, for example voluntary contributions by the airport operator.

Airports: Security

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many security staff have been employed checking departing passengers at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick and  (c) Stansted in each of the last 12 months; and how many departing passengers have been checked during that period.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK National Aviation Security Programme requires airports to comply with specific security measures which are subject to regular inspection by the Department for Transport to ensure that standards are adhered to. The programme does not mandate the number of security personnel required to undertake security tasks. As private businesses, decisions about staffing are rightly a matter for the airports themselves. All departing passengers and their baggage are all subject to security screening at UK airports.

Airports: Security

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many items and what tonnage of material have been confiscated from departing passengers as a result of security checks at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick and  (c) Stansted in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Government do not maintain records as the management of this process and disposal of the items are a matter for airports.

Aviation: Standards

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of  (a) the extent of overbooking in the airline industry and  (b) the associated levels of risk to passengers of not being allowed to travel on their pre-booked flight.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Overbooking is a common practice among airlines and provides for the more efficient use of aircraft, for example where passengers have failed to check in for flights for which they have purchased tickets. The Government do not believe that denied boarding is a widespread problem, based on the relatively small number of complaints on this issue received by the Air Transport Users Council. In the event a passenger is denied boarding, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 sets minimum levels of financial compensation, and requires passengers to be offered a choice between re-routing and reimbursement.

Aviation: Standards

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that all airline passengers are made aware of the risk of not being allowed to travel on their pre-booked flight due to overbooking at the time of purchasing tickets; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is common practice for airlines' terms and conditions of carriage to include a reference to the possibility of denied boarding and the action they will take to compensate passengers who are inconvenienced in this way. In addition, the website of the Air Transport Users Council includes advice on this issue. The Government do not believe the extent of the problem is such that further action is necessary to highlight this risk to passengers.

Bull Bars: Regulation

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules apply to the use of bull bars on cars in the UK.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since 25 May 2007, the requirements of EC Directive 2005/66/EC, concerning bull bars, apply to all new cars being registered under the type approval scheme. Similarly, all bull bars offered for sale as an accessory must be approved and carry an approval mark.
	Bull bars fitted before this date are subject to the general safety requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

Bus Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities run night bus schemes; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Local authorities, apart from Transport for London, do not run bus schemes. Operators outside London may wish to run buses during the night and they register these routes with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
	Exact information on the number of schemes is not available without incurring disproportionate costs.

Bus Services

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projected central Government expenditure is per head of population for local public transport for  (a) London,  (b) each of the English passenger transport executive areas and  (c) each of the English regions in each of the next 10 years; and what such expenditure was in each year since 2001-02.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses include figures for the Department for Transport's expenditure per head of population for local public transport in London and the other English regions. Planned figures are available at this level of disaggregation for 2007-08 but not beyond. Regional figures have not been split down to the passenger transport executive areas.
	The following table shows the DFT spend on local public transport per head of population in each English region, including London, for each year from 2001-02 to 2007-08. It includes direct payments from central Government to bus operators, but not financial support for local authorities (including bus services) or funding for heavy rail services. These are both reported elsewhere in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, which are published at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_cra/country_region.cfm
	
		
			  DFT spend per head on local public transport 
			  £ 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 North East 12 12 14 9 9 10 11 
			 North West 8 8 10 8 9 9 10 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 9 9 11 8 9 9 9 
			 East Midlands 7 6 9 6 6 6 6 
			 West Midlands 8 7 10 7 7 7 8 
			 Eastern 19 14 34 6 6 6 6 
			 London 85 59 172 11 13 12 12 
			 South East 13 10 23 5 5 6 6 
			 South West 7 6 9 6 6 6 7 
			 (1) Plans.

Bus Services

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department provides to bus operators on the priority to be given to users of pushchairs and wheelchairs when there is insufficient room in a vehicle to carry both.

Rosie Winterton: Powers granted to Government under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 enabled the Department for Transport to make regulations allowing wheelchair users to access new buses and travel in safety and in reasonable comfort. No such powers were granted in respect of people using pushchairs.
	The Department published guidance in 2003 advising bus staff of their duties with respect to disabled passengers, and more than 150,000 copies of this document have been issued.
	More recently, the Department has worked with the Disability Rights Commission (now the Commission for Equality and Human Rights) to produce sector specific guidance for transport operators on avoiding discrimination. The guidance for buses and scheduled coaches provides advice on use of the designated wheelchair space by passengers other than wheelchair users, and this document is available from their website at www.equalityhumanrights.com
	While other passengers are at liberty to use the designated wheelchair space when it is not required by a wheelchair user, it should be vacated, if at all possible, when it is required for a wheelchair user to travel.

Bus Services

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department provides to bus operators on the safety implications of the carriage of more than one  (a) wheelchair user and  (b) pushchair per vehicle; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) specify vehicle construction requirements to enable disabled passengers, including wheelchair users, to access new buses and travel in safety and reasonable comfort. Each new bus falling with scope of these regulations is required to be fitted with at least one wheelchair space.
	The Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers)(Amendment) Regulations 2002 require that the driver of a bus which complies with the PSVAR allow a wheelchair user to board if the designated wheelchair space is unoccupied, and it is safe to do so. An operator should not transport more occupied wheelchairs than there are designated wheelchair spaces on their vehicle. The Department published guidance in 2003 advising bus staff of their duties with respect to disabled passengers, and more than 150,000 copies of this document have been issued.
	There are neither regulations nor guidance relating specifically to the safe carriage of pushchairs on buses. However, there are general regulations in force which seek to protect the safety of all passengers on buses.

Buses: Carbon Emissions

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of how many and what percentage of the bus fleet have hybrid engines, broken down by region.

Rosie Winterton: The number of hybrid-electric buses cannot currently be identified from the DVLA vehicle registration database.

Car Hire: Driving Offences

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) accidents and  (b) traffic offences occurred involving hire cars in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not available.

Cars

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment the Government has made of the top speeds of the most popular cars currently using British roads and of trends in the advertised top speeds of vehicles sold in the UK.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have made no assessment of the top speeds of cars using British roads, nor of trends in the advertised top speeds of vehicles sold in the UK. However the Government reached an agreement with the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) about not glamorising speed and all advertisements have to be pre-cleared.

Civil Aviation Authority: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press officers are employed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In the CAA's Corporate Communications department, there are three full-time press officers and two members of staff who job-share a press officer post.

Cycling: Accidents

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were seriously injured in collisions between cyclists and pedestrians in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of people seriously injured in reported personal injury accidents between pedal cyclists and pedestrians in each of last five years is shown as follows:
	
		
			   Number of serious casualties 
			 2002 57 
			 2003 53 
			 2004 57 
			 2005 65 
			 2006 57

Cycling: Accidents

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic accidents there were involving cyclists in  (a) Wirral, South and  (b) Merseyside in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one pedal cyclist in  (a) Wirral, South and  (b) Merseyside in each of the past five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
			   Wirral South  Merseyside 
			 2002 13 353 
			 2003 21 284 
			 2004 16 326 
			 2005 13 350 
			 2006 21 311

Cycling: Safety Measures

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of cycle helmet wearing rates; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The findings of surveys of helmet wearing rates on major and minor built up roads from 1994 to 2004 and 1999 to 2004 are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Cycle helmet wearing rates on major built up roads 1994 to 2004 
			  Percentage 
			   1994  1996  1999  2002  2004 
			  Male  
			 Under 16 16.0 13.3 12.7 12.3 10.8 
			 16 years and over 15.5 16.7 22.2 25.2 28.7 
			   
			  Female  
			 Under 16 21.9 17.6 20.9 24.4 26.3 
			 16 years and over 17.0 17.5 22.2 27.0 29.7 
			   
			  All  
			 Under 16 17.6 14.4 15.0 15.3 14.1 
			 16 years and over 15.9 17.0 22.2 25.7 29.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Cycle helmet wearing rates on minor built up roads 1999-2004 
			  Percentage 
			   1999  2002  2004 
			 All cyclists 8.2 9.5 9.6 
			 Males 8.2 9.2 9.0 
			 Females 8.1 10.1 12.5 
			 All under 16 9.7 6.5 6.4 
			 All 16 and over 7.4 10.9 11.3 
		
	
	The 2006 survey of cycle helmet wearing rates will be published later this year.

Derry City Airport

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make a statement on the investigation of the runway subsidence incident at Derry City airport on 8 August 2007; and what the conclusions of the investigation were.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The aerodrome conducted an immediate investigation into the incident that occurred on 8 August 2007 and the report was presented to the CAA. The investigation revealed that the First Choice aircraft (airbus A320) that had arrived from Reus (Spain) was unable to access the main aircraft parking area due to congestion. In agreement with Air Traffic Control (ATC) the aircraft was initially held on a taxiway until space became available. While holding on the taxiway, the main aircraft wheels sank into the taxiway surface.
	The report concluded that the aircraft should not have been held on that taxiway, as the taxiway was not designed to accept the weight of the A320 aircraft. The aerodrome operator subsequently issued an operating instruction that prevents aircraft of this size using that taxiway in the future. They have also commissioned a review of the pavement strength for the main runway and other paved surfaces. The United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Package (UKAIP) entry for the aerodrome has also been amended to reflect the pavement values for the aerodrome surfaces. They have also instigated a review of the equivalent commercial information available to pilots.
	The aerodrome is also planning a new extension to the aircraft parking area in 2008 that will provide additional parking stands, which should reduce the need for aircraft to hold pending stand availability. This will include a new direct taxiway from the main runway.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Disclosure of Information

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides information about UK driving licence holders and registered owners of cars to  (a) European and  (b) other countries; whether there have been recent changes in policy; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is a member of EUCARIS (the European Car and Driving Licence Information System) which electronically links the databases of participating European registration authorities. The EUCARIS treaty permits the checking of information when a driving licence is produced for exchange or a vehicle registration document is applied for.
	Driving licence information is currently exchanged only between Great Britain, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and is restricted to the following information:
	Full name of licence holder
	Date of birth
	Place of birth
	Categories of vehicle the holder is permitted to drive
	The validity period and date of issue
	Restrictions/signals (e.g. stolen, lost, withdrawn, duplicate, invalid etc.).
	Vehicle data can be exchanged with Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden. Information exchanged is restricted to Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), registration mark, make, model, date of first registration (if applicable), colour, fuel type and whether there are any restrictions or signals (e.g. stolen, vehicle scrapped or documents/plates stolen or missing).
	Information is exchanged only with registration authorities of countries outside the EU where they have adequate data protection laws. This is conducted on a case-by-case basis. There has not been any recent policy changes.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Telephone Services

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what revenue the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency received from its use of 0870 numbers in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 September 2007,  Official Report, columns 2190-91W.

Driving Offences: Fines

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was raised in fines from traffic cameras in Cambridgeshire in each of the last five years; and how much of the money raised was spent on road safety in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department only holds information about speed and red-light cameras operating under the national safety camera programme, the audit certificates for the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership for the last five financial years outlined in table A show the fine revenue from conditional offer of fixed penalties for offences detected by speed and red light cameras operating under the then National Safety Camera Programme.
	
		
			  Table A 
			   £ 
			 2001-02 135,420 
			 2002-03 771,360 
			 2003-04 1,245,780 
			 2004-05 1,196,460 
			 2005-06 1,259,880 
		
	
	Under the then netting off funding arrangements, safety camera partnerships reclaimed expenditure directly attributed to the prevention, detection and enforcement of offences, the amounts reclaimed by the Cambridgeshire partnership in these financial years is set out in table B. the surplus was returned to the Consolidated Fund.
	
		
			  Table B 
			   £ 
			 2001-02 113,760 
			 2002-03 728,192 
			 2003-04 1,090,937 
			 2004-05 1,021,261 
			 2005-06 1,027,705

Driving: Licensing

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people  (a) over and  (b) under the age of 25 years held a full UK driving licence in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Statistics are held for local authorities and regions for 2006 only. Information is not held by constituency so we are unable to supply data for Jarrow. The Department for Transport only hold figures for Great Britain.
	
		
			  Area  Under 25  Over 25  Total 
			 South Tyneside 6,020 65,373 71,393 
			 North East 114,893 1,178,712 1,293,605 
			 GB 2,927,219 31,848,368 34,775,587 
			  Source: DfT January 2006 Census 
		
	
	Drivers statistics collated prior to January 2006 are only available as national (GB) totals.
	
		
			   Under 25  Over 25  Total 
			 July 1997 3,645,225 28,684,003 32,329,228 
			 April 1998 3,500,031 29,032,186 32,532,217 
			 April 1999 3,234,582 29,434,406 32,668,988 
			 September 2000 2,965,137 29,915,224 32,880,361 
			 January 2001 2,935,143 30,005,339 32,940,482 
			 November 2003 2,805,722 30,965,965 33,771,687 
			 January 2006 2,927,219 31,848,368 34,775,587 
			  Source: Various DfT Drivers Censuses 
		
	
	The Drivers Census is run on a sporadic basis. That is the reason why there appear to be missing years in the table.

Driving: Licensing

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of  (a) male and  (b) female car driving licence holders have unendorsed licences.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Although DVLA records details of driving convictions on its driving licence records, it does not have available a statistical breakdown of the numbers of male and female drivers who have unendorsed licences.

Driving: Working Hours

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 38WS, on drivers' hours (derogation for reservists), what steps have been taken with regard to a derogation for reservists from Regulation (EC) 561/2006; and what progress has been made in securing this change.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As set out in the written ministerial statement of 11 June 2007 we have written to the European Commission requesting an exemption from the weekly rest requirements of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 for professional drivers when undertaking military training as a reservist with the volunteer reserve forces or acting as instructors in the cadet corps at the weekend. This request was made in accordance with Article 14.1 of the Regulation which provides for exceptions in exceptional circumstances.
	The European Commission are currently considering our request and discussions are ongoing.

Electric Vehicles

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of cars on British roads were electric or hybrid vehicles  (a) 10 years ago and  (b) at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number and percentage of licensed electric or hybrid electric cars in Great Britain at  (a) the end of 1997 and  (b) the end of 2006 were as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 1997 94 < 0.01 
			 2006 17,618 0.06

Ferries: Lymington

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received on the environmental impact of plans to increase the water displacement of ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has received one written representation from a private individual on this subject which included environmental impact concerns. The MCA would expect Wightlink to take these concerns into consideration in its plans for the replacement of the existing vessels. The MCA's primary concern will be the safety of the new vessels and of other users of the waters in which the vessels will be operating.

Freight: Liverpool

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what planning assumptions have been made about the likely growth in freight volumes through the port of Liverpool.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has itself made no such assumptions: planning to meet growth in traffic is a matter for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. In relation to containers specifically, the Company's evidence to the inquiry last year into the application for a Harbour Revision Order to permit development of the Seaforth River Terminal included a projection to 2015 of the trend growth-rate of 5.1 per cent. per annum which had been experienced over the 10 years to 2005.

Limehouse Station

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Safety Inspectorate last inspected c2c's platform capacity at Limehouse Station during peak travel times; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for c2c.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her most recent estimate is of the number of uninsured vehicles on British roads; and what assessment she has made of trends in numbers of uninsured vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Our latest estimate (2005) for uninsured driving is based on a comparison of the vehicle register, maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Motor Insurance Database. It is that there are about 2.1 million licensed vehicles (about 6.5 per cent. of the UK vehicle fleet) being driven by uninsured drivers.
	We have no long-term evidence on trends, however we will make a more up to date assessment of the levels of uninsured driving and there is some recent evidence from the insurance industry showing that for the year 2006 there was a 4.2 per cent. drop in claims for compensation for the victims of uninsured drivers.

Departments: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by Trinity House;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Northern Lighthouse Board.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Trinity House and the Northern Lighthouse Board employed one full-time member of staff each on press officer activities as at 1 September 2007.

Departments: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Driving Standards Agency.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press officers are employed by the Vehicle Certification Agency.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press officers are employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press officers are employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press officers are employed by the Highways Agency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The full-time equivalent number of staff employed on press officer activities on 1 September 2007 by DfT executive agencies is as follows:
	
		
			   Press office staff (FTE) 
			 DSA 2 
			 DVLA 5 
			 GCDA 0 
			 HA 11 
			 MCA 2 
			 VCA 0 
			 VOSA 1 
			 Total 21 
		
	
	Press office activities in most agencies are not carried out by staff or units solely dedicated to this purpose.

Public Service Vehicles: Carbon Emissions

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she has taken to promote the use of low emission hybrid engines in public transport vehicles; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government policies to support low carbon transport technologies are set out in the Low Carbon Transport Innovation Strategy (LCTIS) published in May 2007.
	The Government currently provide funding for low carbon technology research and development through the grant programme managed by the Energy Saving Trust. As announced in LCTIS, this funding will in the future be managed by the Technology Strategy Board through their Low Carbon Vehicle Innovation Platform providing up to £30 million per annum. The programme is technology neutral and will be open to developments of hybrid technology in public transport vehicles.

Railways: Flood Control

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway lines had services cancelled owing to flooded lines in June and July 2007.

Tom Harris: These are operational matters for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The right hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:
	Ian Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London, NW1 2DE

Railways: Kent

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many carriages are currently  (a) in service and  (b) out of service on the Kent Integrated Franchise.

Tom Harris: There are 1,292 carriages in operation on the franchise. 18 carriages are currently not in service due to fire, crash and derailment damage.

Railways: Kent

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which platforms on the North Kent lines between London and Dartford need lengthening to accommodate 12 car trains; and when she expects this work to be completed;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with Southeastern Trains on introducing 12 car trains; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the future demands for extra capacity on North Kent services between London and Dartford; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The rail White Paper published in July set out the safety, reliability and capacity improvements the Government want to buy by 2014. The next step in the process is for the industry to consider in more detail how best to deliver those improvements, though the specimen capacity options published in conjunction with the White Paper did identify platform lengthening on two of the three London to Dartford routes as a scheme which could contribute towards achieving the capacity target.

Railways: Kent

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the performance of  (a) Southeastern Trains and  (b) the previous operator for North Kent services between London and Dartford over equivalent periods; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: "Southeastern" is the current operator of trains in south east London and Kent, including services between London and Dartford. Southeastern took control of this franchise in April 2006. The previous operator was South Eastern Trains.
	Since April 2006, average punctuality and reliability on Southeastern's routes improved from 86.7 per cent. to 88.9 per cent. The previous operator, South Eastern Trains, had been responsible for raising average performance from 79.4 per cent. when it took over operations in November 2003.
	Figures reflect the performance of all services operated by this franchise, as the Department does not hold the data for the London-Dartford routes on their own.

Railways: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to increase railway capacity on services between Peterborough and London in terms of the number of  (a) new carriages and  (b) capacity for more passengers; and when the new carriages will be rolled out.

Tom Harris: A fleet of new trains is due to be introduced on the Peterborough to London route as part of the final stage of the Thameslink Programme in December 2015. In the meantime, the December 2008 timetable will see an extra 16 carriages on London to Peterborough and Cambridge routes. This will allow key peak services to provide an additional 1,779 and 2,490 seats in the morning and evening peaks respectively.

Railways: Standards

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking with train operators to improve  (a) ticket pricing,  (b) onboard facilities and  (c) punctuality.

Tom Harris: The Government regulate rail fares where operators are likely to have a high degree of market power. Increases in regulated fares are limited to RPI+1 per cent. and the Secretary of State for Transport recently announced that regulated fares will be capped at this level until at least 2014. Fares that are not subject to regulation are priced at the discretion of train operators. However, the recent White Paper, "Delivering a Sustainable Railway", concluded that the fares structure requires simplification for the benefit of passengers and announced its intention to work with the rail industry to implement a simplified fares structure.
	Facilities on board trains are a matter for train operators and the rolling stock companies. They are required to comply with relevant safety and accessibility regulations but decisions on other facilities are a matter for them.
	The rail industry has continued sustained improvement in punctuality since 2002 and reliability is now back above pre-Hatfield levels. The recent White Paper announced the Government's intention to specify an overall improvement in train reliability (in terms of the public performance measure) of 92.6 per cent. by 2014, compared to a current industry reliability figure of 88.1 per cent. Franchise agreements with train operators contain performance standards that the operators have a contractual obligation to meet and the Department for Transport has sanctions that it can take to ensure that train operators meet their performance obligations.

Railways: Stansted Airport

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if officials in her Department will meet representatives of Central Trains to discuss the possibility of providing earlier weekday and weekend services between Peterborough and Stansted Airport.

Tom Harris: Responsibility for train services between Peterborough and Stansted Airport will transfer from Central Trains to Arriva Trains Cross Country on 11 November. The issue of service enhancement to and from Stansted Airport was raised with bidders as part of the franchise bidding process.
	Arriva Trains Cross Country have confirmed to the Department that they are seeking improved services to and from the airport and are actively exploring options for the December 2008 timetable change.

Road Traffic Control: Disabled

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance is issued by the Department for Transport to highway authorities on consulting people with disabilities before the construction of traffic calming measures.

Rosie Winterton: "Local Transport Note 1/07 Traffic Calming" (Department for Transport, 2007) contains guidance on consultation (including consultation with people with disabilities) before the construction of traffic calming measures.

Roads: Accidents

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents where a medical condition was a contributory factor were recorded in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of fatal road accidents in which any participant had "illness or disability, mental or physical" as a contributory factor was 132 in 2005 and 127 in 2006.
	2005 is the earliest year for which this information is available.

Roads: Accidents

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many people  (a) over and  (b) under the age of 25 years holding a full UK driving licence were killed in road accidents whilst driving a car in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England and Wales in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people  (a) over and  (b) under the age of 25 who did not hold a full UK driving licence were killed in a road accident while driving a car in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many people  (a) over and  (b) under the age of 25 who did not hold a full UK driving licence were injured in a road accident while driving a car in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not available.

Roads: Accidents

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were  (a) killed and  (b) injured in road accidents in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of killed and injured casualties resulting from reported personal injury road accidents in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England and Wales in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of casualties 
			   Severity  Jarrow  South Tyneside  North East  England and Wales 
			 1997 Killed 0 2 135 3,222 
			  Injured 364 562 12,532 301,978 
			 1998 Killed 1 2 121 3,036 
			  Injured 352 548 12,189 299,720 
			 1999 Killed 6 6 126 3,113 
			  Injured 302 511 11,410 296,360 
			 2000 Killed 1 3 93 3,084 
			  Injured 324 544 11,667 296,724 
			 2001 Killed 1 1 102 3,103 
			  Injured 318 516 11,515 290,350 
			 2002 Killed 2 3 126 3,127 
			  Injured 338 530 11,580 280,229 
			 2003 Killed 3 7 132 3,177 
			  Injured 336 530 11,746 268,758 
			 2004 Killed 3 5 128 2,915 
			  Injured 311 508 11,330 259,534 
			 2005 Killed 1 1 108 2,915 
			  Injured 284 502 10,782 250,307 
			 2006 Killed 1 7. 109 2,858 
			  Injured 225 427 10,255 238,411

Roads: Flood Control

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stretches of motorways were closed in June and July 2007 because of floods.

Tom Harris: The stretches of motorways closed due to floods during June and July 2007 are given in table 1 as follows.
	
		
			  Table 1: Motorway closures due to flooding June and July 2007 
			  Closures  Date in June/July 
			  Motorway and junction(s)  
			 A1(M) J35 26 June 2007 
			 M1 J36 to 35a 26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007 
			 M1 J36 - M1 J32 exit slip-roads 26 June 2007 
			 M1 J35 entry slip-road 15 June 2007 
			 M1 J35 26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007 
			 M1 J34 exit slip-road 15 June 2007 
			 M1 J34 exit slip-road 25 June 2007 
			 M1 J34 southbound 26 June 2007 to 27 June 2007 
			 M1 J33 slip-roads 26 June 2007 to 27 June 2007 
			 Ml J32 northbound 26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007 
			 M1 J32 (northbound slip-roads J33-34) 26 June 2007 to 28 June 2007 
			 M1 J32-J34 26 June 2007 
			 M4 westbound, J1 to J2 (elevated section) 14 June 2007 
			 M4 eastbound J3 entry-slip 15 June 2007 
			   
			  Hard shoulder and lane 1 closure  
			 M25 clockwise, J7-J8 lane 4 closure 20 July 2007 
			 M25 clockwise, J8-J9 total closure 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J14 entry slip northbound 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J13 entry slip northbound 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J12 entry slip northbound 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J11 entry slip northbound 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J11a northbound travelling to A417 eastbound slip road closed 20 July 2007 
			 M5 between Junctions 11a and 12 southbound lane 1 closure 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J10 entry slip northbound 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J9 full closure in both directions 20 July 2007 
			 M5 J4a southbound closed including J5, J6, J7 and J8 entry slips 20 July 2007 to 21 July 2007 
			 M18-M1 J32 slips 26 June 2007 
			 M18 J1 slip-roads 26 June 2007 
			 M40 DBFO Warwick Services north and southbound entry slip 14 June 2007 
			 M40 DBFO Warwick Services northbound entry slip 20 July 2007 
			 M54 J6 westbound on slip 25 June 2007 to 26 June 2007 
			 M50 westbound exit slip J1—closed due to flooding on A38 20 July 2007 to 21 July 2007 
			 M50 (M5 J8-J4) closed in both directions 20 July 2007 to 21 July 2007

Roads: Flood Control

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which  (a) motorways and  (b) trunk roads the Highways Agency used (i) water containment and (ii) pumps to respond to floods since the beginning of June 2007.

Tom Harris: The stretches of motorways and trunk roads on which the Highways Agency used water containment and/or pumps since the beginning of June 2007 is given in Tables 1 and 2 as follows. Several instances arose where flood warning signs were erected and gully clearance was necessary; these have not been included in the tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Motorways where containment/pumps were used due to floods from June 2007 to-date 
			  Motorway  Water containment (e.g. sandbags, barriers, etc.) Yes: comment/no  Pumps used. Yes: comment/no 
			 A1(M) J8 northbound exit slip Emergency lane 1 closure installed and emergency flood warning boards erected. Stationary Pumps 
			 A1(M) J8 northbound exit slip Flood warning boards erected Stationary Pumps 
			 M1 J22 to 23 northbound Flooding on the hard shoulder after heavy rain. Trenches dug in the verge to assist in drainage. Water receded. No 
			 M1 J19 southbound bottom of exit slip No Flooding on slip road from heavy rain—water cleared with pump 
			 M1 Junction 38 northbound No Pumps used to protect farm property and livestock as river burst its banks 
			 M3 J4 Sandbags for private property surface water not from the highway No 
			 M6 J13 and 14 northbound Flooding on hard shoulder from heavy rainfall. Trench dug at rear of gulley and water receded. Road then swept dry. No 
			 M6 J14 to 15 northbound Flooding on hard shoulder from heavy rain. Trenches dug in verge and water drained away. No 
			 M62 J26 eastbound Sandbags used No 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Trunk Roads where containment/pumps were used due to floods from June 2007 to-date 
			  Trunk road  Water containment (e.g. sandbags, barriers, etc.)  Pumps used. yes/no 
			 A1 Catterick No 2 vactor units (which is a lorry with a watertank and pump) to keep the gullies clear. 
			 DBFO A1 Darrington to Dishforth Wetherby No Pump used for loading water tanker for discharge off site and redirecting water into adjacent drainage system 
			 A1 Nottinghamshire, Worksop and Retford Sandbags at a number of locations to restrict flow of surface water off adjoining fields. No 
			 A3 Send Flood boards No 
			 A5 westbound at Churchbridge nr. Cannock No Sheer volume of rainfall on the carriageway caused flooding of foul drainage lifting cover, allowing sewage onto carriageway—specialist contractor clearance using pumps to transfer waste to tank. 
			 A5 Towcester Sandbags used No 
			 A5 southbound, Duncote Sandbags used No 
			 A5 north and southbound, Sheep Lane No Fire brigade supported with pumps. 
			 A14 Bury St. Edmunds No Water pumped away into tanker 
			 A27 Chichester No Pumps were used to remove water from the carriageway on three separate occasions 
			 A34 Chievely No Pump was used to filter water out the Chievely Depot (which was flooded by pond) onto HA land at M4/A34 Chievely junction 13 
			 A45/A46 Tollbar Island north and southbound Coventry No Pumped water to tanker 
			 A46 Nottinghamshire, Bingham No Pumps used to remove surface water from carriageway at two locations 
			 A50 Junction 24A Lockington Island nr. Derby No Flooding on one side of the island. Gulley jetted and water pumped to tanker 
			 A50 east and westbound at Meir Tunnel—nr. Stoke on Trent No Tunnel closed due to heavy rainfall flooding tunnel. Gullies and interceptors jetted and water pumped to specialist tanker 
			 A50 eastbound and westbound Meir tunnel nr. Stoke on Trent No Tunnel closure due to flooding from heavy rainfall. Catchpits pumped to tanker 
			 A65 Coniston Cold Flood boards erected on two separate occasions No 
			 A65 Settle Flood boards No 
			 A66 Temple Sowerby Flood boards erected on two separate occasions No 
			 A66 Crackenthorpe Flood boards erected No 
			 A259 Rye No Pumps were used to remove water from the carriageway 
			 A259 Bexhill Flood boards and coned area temporarily Pumps were used to remove water from the carriageway 
			 A259 (underpass)(1) Bexhill No Pumps were used to remove water from the underpass 
			 A428 east and westbound Cambourne Duals No Pumps were used to remove water 
			 A590 Lindal-in-Furness Flood boards erected No 
			 A616 at Midhopestones No Pumps used to pump standing water from highway over a wall into underbank reservoir 
			 A616 at Midhopestones 50 sandbags used Pumps used to pump standing water from highway over a wall into underbank reservoir 
			 (1 )The A259 underpass was affected on thirteen separate occasions. The Highways Agency are aware of the flooding issues there and are currently designing a scheme that will solve the problem this financial year.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many programmed road surface repairs there are.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally for local roads. Highway maintenance on local roads in England is the responsibility of each local highways authority. All local highway authorities have been encouraged to produce asset management plans for their roads. These will consist of inventories of stock, its existing condition, and target condition based upon desired service levels. This information will assist local highway authorities to programme their road surface repairs.
	The Department has also endorsed "Well maintained highways", the code of practice for highway maintenance produced by the UK Roads Board. The document which can be found at www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org provides best practice guidance on the programming of highway maintenance.
	The Highways Agency are responsible for highway maintenance on the strategic road network in England. Their programme is sub-divided into significant renewal schemes and small works. Both types of programme may fluctuate, depending on the overall state of network assets and in-year urgency for tackling unexpected deterioration. The condition target for the strategic road network is measured by a road surface condition index. This target has been met since it was introduced in 2004-05.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the likelihood of achieving the 2010 target for eliminating the road maintenance backlog.

Rosie Winterton: The National Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2005 showed that the 10 Year Plan interim target to halt carriageway deterioration by 2004 had been achieved. We have encouraged local authorities to produce asset management plans for local roads. As more of these become available we expect to gain a better understanding of the investment required to bring local road conditions up to the appropriate operational standards.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of local authorities' budgets for road maintenance are required to be allocated to road preservation.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport provides local authorities in England (outside London) with funding support for capital highway maintenance funding for investment in their network, including its structures and street lighting. Revenue funding provided through the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) may also be used for highway maintenance. Neither funding is ring fenced. It is for each local authority to determine how their allocations are spent, in line with their priorities. Funding in London is a matter for the mayor.

Shipping: Scotland

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings have taken place between her Department and the Scottish Executive's  (a) Marine Directorate and  (b) Transport Directorate since May regarding the devolution of further powers for the Scottish Parliament under UK marine legislation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No such meetings have been held and none have been requested by the Scottish Executive.

Taxis

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with the Transport Occupational Command Unit regarding  (a) the number of crimes committed by illegal minicab drivers and  (b) proposed measures to reduce the number of illegal minicabs operating in London.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not had any discussions with the Transport Operational Command Unit on these matters. However, we keep in touch with TfL officials about a range of taxi-related issues. We are aware, through discussions with TfL, that the unit undertakes dedicated enforcement activities in respect of illegal minicab drivers in London using a variety of methods including multi-agency road checks and visits to operators. We are also aware of TfL's initiative to enhance safety for passengers through its "Safer Travel at Night" campaign.

Taxis

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to reduce the number of illegal minicab drivers operating in  (a) London and  (b) England.

Rosie Winterton: If individuals provide a minicab service without holding the requisite licences they are committing an offence. Responsibility for enforcing the law rests with Transport for London within London and the relevant local licensing authority elsewhere in England. The police also, of course, have a role to play in enforcing the law.
	Last year we brought forward a change in the law which will establish a more comprehensive system for licensing minicabs (private hire vehicles—PHVs). Section 53 of the Road Safety Act 2006 repeals the exemption from PHV licensing outside London for vehicles which work on contracts lasting not less than seven days. When the repeal takes effect—in January 2008—it will be much harder for operators and drivers to evade licensing. A similar provision (section 54 of the Act) will bring operators and drivers dedicated to contract work in London within the PHV licensing regime—in March 2008.

Taxis: Bus Lanes

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with  (a) the Mayor of London's office and  (b) Transport for London on the access of private hire vehicles to bus lanes.

Rosie Winterton: The Department keeps in touch with TfL officials about a range of issues related to TfL's responsibilities for taxis and private hire vehicles, including the question of PHV access to bus lanes. We are aware that TfL are giving consideration to this question. As part of this, they have sought the Department's advice on the road signs that would be required.
	I am not aware of any discussions with the Mayor of London's office on this issue.

Taxis: Licensing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2007,  Official Report, columns 2195-6W, on taxis: licensing, what assumptions were made about the  (a) total number of currently unlicensed drivers,  (b) number of vehicles,  (c) number of operators and  (d) average licence fees when making the estimate referred to; and how the estimate of total costs of £1 million was reached.

Rosie Winterton: The estimate of £1 million was included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for the proposal to repeal the private hire vehicle (PHV) contract exemption; a copy of this is in the Library of the House. The RIA was based on the following assumptions: (a) 2000 drivers (b) 2000 vehicles and (c) 300 operators would have to be licensed as a direct result of the repeal of the contract exemption. Average fees for each of the licences were assumed to be £250, £200 and £400 respectively.
	These estimates and assumptions were based on the fact that the terms of the contract exemption are narrow and apply in a relatively limited number of cases. They made no allowance for cases now coming to light where transport providers might have believed, or claimed, that they were covered by the exemption but were not in reality so covered. A number of these cases are, and will remain, outside the definition of a PHV in the legislation and therefore will still not need to be licensed. Others should have been licensed as PHVs in the past and repeal of itself will not therefore create a new requirement to meet licensing costs. The Department has sought the views of stakeholders on draft guidance for local licensing authorities on the impact of the repeal and we expect to publish the final version of this shortly.

Taxis: Licensing

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks her Department makes on non-British drivers who work with a valid licence as taxi drivers in the UK.

Rosie Winterton: Local authorities in England and Wales (outside London) and Transport for London (in London) are responsible for licensing taxi drivers.
	The relevant legislation states that taxi drivers outside London must have held a full GB or EU driver licence for 12 months. In addition, local licensing authorities must satisfy themselves that an applicant for a taxi driver licence is a "fit and proper" person to hold such a licence. The way in which they carry out this assessment is a matter for individual authorities.
	However, the Department has produced Best Practice Guidance to assist local licensing authorities; the guidance includes advice about carrying out background checks on applicants from elsewhere in the EU and other overseas countries and relevant sources of information.

Thameslink Railway Line

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will commence to install the two extra rail lines north of London Bridge to accommodate Thameslink services; and when such work will be completed.

Tom Harris: Preliminary work is scheduled to begin in January 2009. The work will be completed by 2015.

Tolls: Manchester

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received about the proposed congestion charge in Greater Manchester.

Rosie Winterton: The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) have submitted a business case for Transport Innovation Fund funding for a package to tackle congestion by combining transport investment and road pricing. We are currently assessing the case.

Travel: Concessions

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which local authorities have implemented public transport discount schemes for those aged 18 years and under;
	(2)  what guidance she has issued to local authorities on the financing of public transport discount schemes for young people.

Rosie Winterton: There is no statutory obligation on local authorities to implement concessionary fare schemes for young people. Therefore the Department does not issue guidance on the financing of such schemes nor hold information on which local authorities have introduced them.

Travel: Concessions

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will bring forward amendments to the provisions of the transport legislation which prevent the disabled and medically disadvantaged from using public transport at discounted rates for their journeys to work at peak times.

Rosie Winterton: The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007, which received Royal Assent on 19 July 2007, provides for free off-peak local bus travel throughout England for older and eligible disabled England residents from April 2008. The Act improves on the existing statutory minimum entitlement of free travel within an eligible person's local authority area.
	Local authorities retain the flexibility to offer more than the statutory minimum concession to their residents, which can include free or discounted travel at peak times for older and disabled people, and travel on other modes like trams or trains. Many authorities do offer additional concessions, funded locally, taking into account local circumstances.
	In addition, the Government requires train operating companies to participate in the Disabled Persons Railcard scheme, which provides a third off most tickets, including at peak times.
	The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 contains powers allowing the Government to further extend the statutory minimum concession in the future, both on buses and on other modes.

Travel: Paris

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of passenger journeys from  (a) all English and  (b) London airports in each of the last five years to (i) Paris and (ii) Brussels were undertaken by (A) air, (B) rail and (C) road.

Jim Fitzpatrick: It is not possible to provide the information exactly as requested. However, the International Passenger Survey can show the number of passenger trips to Paris and Brussels made by air (from London and other UK airports) and by train (Eurostar). The number of trips to Paris and Brussels by road is not available.
	
		
			  Number of trips to Paris and Brussels from the UK by air and rail, 2002-06 
			  Thousand 
			Paris  Brussels 
			 2002 London airports 901 362 
			  Other UK airports 1,183 478 
			  Train routes 2,391 599 
			 
			 2003 London airports 872 305 
			  Other UK airports 1,333 375 
			  Train routes 2,303 648 
			 
			 2004 London airports 824 328 
			  Other UK airports 1,328 367 
			  Train routes 2,628 736 
			 
			 2005 London airports 784 293 
			  Other UK airports 1,324 348 
			  Train routes 2,732 758 
			 
			 2006 London airports 800 263 
			  Other UK airports 1,315 339 
			  Train routes 2,745 811 
			  Notes: 1. London airports cover Heathrow, Gatwick and London City. 2. 'Train routes' include Eurostar foot passengers from both Waterloo and Ashford.  Source:  International Passenger Survey (ONS)

Travel: Young People

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to promote walking and cycling strategies for young people, with particular reference to schemes other than the school journey.

Rosie Winterton: While we make no excuse for focusing on walking and cycling strategies which can help children walk and cycle to school, young people can also benefit from many of our other initiatives to encourage people to walk and cycle more. Cycle training teaches young people a life skill which enables them to undertake a range of journeys, not just to school. Evidence shows our safe routes to school are also being used by the wider population to access other locations on foot or by bike.
	Many of the improvements local authorities are making to local cycling infrastructure and cycle networks can also benefit young people. One of our 6 Cycle Demonstration owns, Derby, has a specific focus on targeting improvements to encourage those under 25 to cycle.
	We are also continuing to monitor progress on our Walking and Cycling Action Plan which aims to increase levels of walking and cycling to reduce congestion, improve public health and provide for more pleasant public space. Progress reports on the action plan are placed on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=120691=2
	The next update will be in October 2007.

Travel: Young People

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that the views of those aged 18 years and under are taken into account in the consultation on the draft Transport Bill.

Rosie Winterton: As part of the public consultation into the draft Local Transport Bill, the British Youth Council, the National Black Boys Can Association, the National Youth Agency and the Regional Work Unit (North East) were all sent the consultation documents and invited to submit their views.
	I have also been consulting with a number of stakeholders about the draft Bill as part of a regional tour over the summer. One group that I met in Newcastle were the Bus Buddies, a group of young people with an interest in public transport, who were given the opportunity to ask questions about the Bill.

Waste and Resources Action Programme

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the Waste and Resources Action Programme's promotional campaign encouraging local authorities to use recycled aggregate.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport has not made a formal assessment of the impact of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) information service on the sustainable use of aggregates.
	The Department will shortly complete some research on behalf of the UK Roads Board on sustainable choice of materials for highway works. This will be published as a guide for local authority highway engineers and will describe in detail the benefits of recycling aggregates where appropriate, as well as providing links to WRAP information.
	The Department endorses Well-maintained Highways (TSO, 2005 or www.ukroadsliaison group.org). the UK Roads Board's code of practice on highways maintenance. This provides best practice guidance on preparing a policy for sustainable development in highway maintenance and draws local authorities' attention to WRAP's activities.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Modernisation

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Leader of the House when she expects to announce further proposals to modernise the House.

Helen Goodman: The Government are currently considering their detailed response to the First Report of the Modernisation Committee of session 2006-07, on revitalising the chamber: the role of the back bench Member, published in June. I hope to publish the response and to being specific proposals to the House shortly.

Regional Select Committees

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Leader of the House what plans she has for the membership of the proposed regional select committees to reflect the composition of the House in respect of each such region.

Helen Goodman: The Government are considering how best to take forward the ideas in the Governance of Britain Green Paper for committees to reflect the English regions. Any proposals will be announced in due course.

Statutory Instruments

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House if she will ask the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to consider proposals to allow statutory instruments to be amended in committee.

Helen Goodman: The Government have no plans to do so.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House of Commons Commission: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many press officers are employed by the House.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Media and Communications Service consists of nine staff: the Communications Adviser, five Select Committee Media Officers, two Media and Communications Officers and a Media and Communications Assistant.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Careers Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the  (a) annual budget and  (b) staff complement of the new adult careers service will be; and when will it be established.

David Lammy: Our aim is for the new, universal adult careers service to be fully operational in 2010-11 and to trial aspects of the new service, including new skills health checks, during 2008-09. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions and other partners on the development and planning of the new service and decisions on resources for the new service will be taken in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Apprentices

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeship places there are; how many are filled; what the equivalent figures were in 2002; and what he expects them to be in 2012.

David Lammy: The following table shows the total number of apprenticeship starts in 2001-02 and 2005-06, and the latest information for 2006-07.
	
		
			   Apprenticeship starts  Advanced apprenticeship starts 
			 2001-02 108,300 54,000 
			 2005-06 120,600 50,700 
			 2006-07(1) 125,300 54,800 
			 (1) These figures are based on latest management information. Comparable official statistics for 2006-07 will be published in the Statistical First Release Further Education, Work-Based Learning, Train to Gain and Adult and Community LearningLearner Numbers in England 2006/07().  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100.  Source: Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Work Based Learning (WBL) Individualised Learner Record (ILR). 
		
	
	The LSC's ILR is a census of activity capturing provision that learners enrol on and not the number of places that are available to learners. The LSG will fund what young people want to study and will work to ensure sufficient capacity is in place to meet the demand.
	We want to continue the expansion of apprenticeships so that by 2013 every suitably qualified young person will be able to take up a place on the programme.
	We are working with the LSC to promote apprenticeships to employers of all sizes and so increase their take-up. Many employers are already on board with 130,000 offering apprenticeships in England with over 180 apprenticeships available across more than 80 industry sectors.
	We have increased the completion rate to 59 per cent. and risingup from only 24 per cent. five years ago. We plan to increase this further in the next three years to match that of other top competitors. The Government are working with the LSC and key partners to deliver provider incentives, foster provider collaboration, improve staff training, and develop with Sector Skills Councils guidance for individual sectors.
	Diplomas will also provide clear progression routes into apprenticeships and, indeed, contain apprenticeship components within their content where specified by the Diploma Development Partnerships.
	We are also building stronger links with higher education to ensure that apprentices who have the ambition and capacity to do so can enter higher education.

British National Space Centre: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary for State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the British National Space Centre.

Ian Pearson: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills employs one full-time press officer and one part-time press officer who work in the British National Space Centre.

Career Development Loans

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many career development loans have been issued in the last 12 months through each of the banks involved in the scheme.

Bill Rammell: Career development loans are issued by three banks: Barclays bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the Cooperative bank. Together the banks issued 13,502 loans with a total value of 71.5 million in the 12 months to 31 March 2007. I am unable to provide information for each bank as this would breach commercial confidentiality.

Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils.

Ian Pearson: On 1 April 2007, the staff, assets and liabilities of the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, (CCLRC) transferred to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Since that date, CCLRC has had no employees.

Departments: Information Officers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by  (a) Skills for Care,  (b) learndirect,  (c) the Basic Skills Agency and  (d) the Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning.

David Lammy: Details of the employment of press officers by the organisations concerned are given as follows:
	 (a) Skills for Care
	Has one press officer. Skills for Care is part of the alliance of organisations that forms the Skills for Care and Development Sector Skills Council.
	 (b) learndirect
	Is a University for Industry (UfI Ltd) initiative. UfI employs no dedicated press officers, It has a six strong communications function responsible for handling of press enquiries with 1.5 full-time equivalent posts covering this work.
	 (c) The Basic Skills Agency (BSA)
	Merged with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education on 30 June (NIACE), BSA has no press officers, NIACE employs one dedicated press officer,
	 (d) The Quality Improvement Agency
	Employs no dedicated press officers. It has a four strong communications team responsible for handling all QIA corporate communications activities including press office functions with 0.25 full-time equivalent posts covering this work.

Departments: Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants within his Department's areas of responsibilities in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: The amount spent on overnight accommodation for civil servants in the former Department for Education and Skills for the period July 2006 to June 2007 was 1,046,062.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the value is of the unitary payments of each private finance initiative scheme overseen by his Department over the lifetime of the contract, expressed in constant 2007-08 prices, and discounted to present value.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 September 2007
	DIUS does not currently oversee any private finance initiative schemes.

Departments: Visits Abroad

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many overseas visits were made by  (a) officials and  (b) Ministers within his responsibility, and at what cost, in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of 500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2006-07 is currently being compiled and will be published before the summer recess. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Economic and Social Research Council: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Ian Pearson: The Economic and Social Research Council employs three press officers.

European Indicators Project

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure full participation in the European Indicators Project by official bodies and UK assessment organisations.

Bill Rammell: The European Indicators Project is going through a competitive tender process, and any official body or UK assessment organisation could have submitted a bid on their own or as part of a consortium. We would expect that whoever wins the tender would work with appropriate organisations with relevant expertise as they develop the project.

Higher Education

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many higher education institutions there are in England, broken down by region.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table. This is the position in August 2007.
	
		
			  Higher education institutions in England, by Government office region 
			  Government office region of institution location  Number 
			 North East 5 
			 North West 15 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11 
			 East Midlands 9 
			 West Midlands 12 
			 East of England 9 
			 London 41 
			 South East 16 
			 South West 13 
			 Total higher education institutions in England 131

Higher Education Funding Council for England: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Bill Rammell: The Higher Education Council Funding for England has one press officer role, which is equivalent to one FTE.

Higher Education: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many applications for university were made by students in the London borough of Bexley in 2006-07.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information on entrants to university from Bexley is given in the table. This information is for the 2005/06 academic year. Information for the 2006/07 academic year will be available in January 2008.
	The Department does not hold information on applications to university by local authority area.
	
		
			  Entrants to UK higher education institutions from Bexley local authority academic year 2005/06 
			  Academic year  Number of entrants 
			 2005/06 2,880 
			  Note: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Learning and Skills Council: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Learning and Skills Council.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) employs 11 press and communications officers in its National Office and nine Regional Offices, Some of these staff are engaged in other work in addition to their duties as press officers. The LSC has a statutory duty to encourage individuals to undergo post-16 education and training, and in 2006-07 more than 5.5 million people benefited from the learning that it funded.

Medical Research Council: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Medical Research Council.

Ian Pearson: The Medical Research Council employs two full-time press officers.

Medicine: Education

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which Department or agency is responsible for the operation of the UK Clinical Aptitude Test required for admission to certain medical schools; which body let the contract to the private sector for operation of the test; and which organisation successfully tendered for the contract to operate the test.

Bill Rammell: There is no Government Department or agency responsible for the operation of the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) required for admission to certain medical schools. A group of universities with medical and dental schools came together in 2005 to form the UKCAT Consortium, a company limited by guarantee. The Consortium let the contract for the operation of the test. The successful organisation was Pearson VUE.

Office for Fair Access: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Office for Fair Access.

Bill Rammell: The Office for Fair Access has one part-time press and communications adviser. The post, which is equivalent to 0.5 FTE, encompasses the press officer role, as well as including responsibility for all of OFFA's external communications.

Overseas Students: Entry Clearances

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  whether student visas are issued to students wishing to study at Kelvin Business School in Glasgow;
	(2)  what criteria must be met by educational institutions to be included on the list of applicable courses for student visas.

Bill Rammell: To help tackle abuse of the student immigration route of entry to the UK, the Home Office will only grant visas to international students who have offers of places to study at colleges on the DIUS Register of Education and Training Providers. Colleges applying to join the DIUS Register are required to supply evidence that they are providing education and training, and meeting the requirements of the Immigration Rules. The registration process is one of continual assessment.
	Institutions failing to maintain the necessary standards are subject to review and removal from the Register if justified. The Borders and Immigration Agency advised us that Kelvin Business School was in breach of the Immigration Rules. The college was therefore removed from the DIUS Register on 19 July 2007.

Patent Office: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press officers are employed by the Patent Office.

Ian Pearson: The UK-Intellectual Property Office employs one full time press officer.

Qualifications

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which cross-sector standards-setting bodies are to be invited to draw up their own qualification strategies and take the lead in approving qualifications in their sector.

Bill Rammell: To date, the SSDA has approved four (4) standard-setting bodies to develop pan-sector qualifications strategies. These four are Management and Leadership (MSC), Administration (GIA), Marketing and Sales (MSSSB) and Customer Services (IGS). The only other pan-sector for which a qualifications strategy is currently being considered is health and safety. If any other standard-setting body wanted to develop its own qualifications strategies it would need to demonstrate that the occupational area they want to cover is not already covered by an existing Sector Skills Council's Sector Qualifications Strategy.
	In developing their pan-sector qualifications strategies, each standard-setting body is working closely with a lead Sector Skills Council which will ensure employer needs across the board are represented and that there is no duplication with other qualifications strategies. No standard-setting bodies will be responsible for approving qualifications, this is the role of the Sector Skills Councils. All cross-sector standard-setting bodies are being 'buddied' with a lead Sector Skills Council which will approve qualifications, drawing on the expertise of the standard-setting body and liaising with other Sector Skills Councils as appropriate.

Scientific Advisory Committees: Finance

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what the  (a) total annual remuneration and  (b) average annual remuneration payable to members of each scientific advisory committee was in the latest year for which information is available;
	(2)  how many members were appointed to each scientific advisory committee in the 10 years to 31 March 2007;
	(3)  what the cost was of each scientific advisory committee to public funds in each of the last 10 years ended 31 March.

Ian Pearson: There are 81 Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs) who support the work of their sponsor Departments. Management of SACs is a matter for their sponsor Departments who are responsible for establishing the SAC's terms of reference and membership and for ensuring that they deliver value for money. There are no arrangements for collecting the data requested centrally. To do so would be disproportionately costly.

Student: Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will estimate the fee income for higher education providers as referred to in the written ministerial statement by the then Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education of 23 March 2005,  Official Report, columns 71-2WS, on student finance.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 594W, on student fees and charges.

Students: Loans

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many complaints were made about late student loan payments to students in 2006-07.

Bill Rammell: In the academic year 2006-07 the Student Loans Company responded to 189 complaints about loan payment delay.

Students: Loans

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many complaints have been received from graduates against the Student Loans Company in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The number of complaints received specifically from graduates is not available. The total number of new complaints registered by the Student Loans Company from all sources, including customers prior to and after graduation, and third parties, is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 1,417 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 1,451 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 1,818 
			 April 2007 to date 933 
		
	
	The aforementioned figures represent less than 0.05 per cent. of the SLC's customer base.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animals: Abuse

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the adequacy of the maximum penalty for the neglect of and cruelty to animals.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are no plans to review the current penalty for the offence of animal cruelty contained in the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which came into force in Wales on 27 March 2007 and in England on 6 April 2007.
	The Act increased the maximum penalty for an offence of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal from 5,000 to a fine of 20,000, or a maximum term of imprisonment of six months, or both. The Act also introduced the new offence of failing to ensure the welfare of animals, which carries a penalty of up to six months' imprisonment, or a fine of up to 5,000, or both. I am satisfied that these sentences are proportionate and in line with those provided for in comparable legislation.

Biodiversity

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to monitor the effectiveness of the Environmental Stewardship schemes in rebuilding biodiversity apart from assessing the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA and Natural England are spending about 1.5 million a year to monitor and evaluate how effectively the full range of agri-environment scheme objectives is being delivered; including biodiversity, landscape, the historic environment and access.

British Waterways: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by British Waterways.

Jonathan R Shaw: British Waterways employs two full-time press officers. There are a further 10 other staff whose job description includes liaison with the media.

Carbon Emissions

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the estimated total level of carbon emissions in the UK was in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006;
	(2)  what the level of carbon emissions in the EU was in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows the estimated total level of carbon dioxide emissions for the UK and the EU, 2004-06.
	
		
			   UK  EU (27 member states) 
			 2004 554.6 3,858 
			 2005 554.2 3,815 
			 2006 560.6 n/a 
		
	
	Figures are million tonnes of net carbon dioxide emissions (emissions minus removals).
	Emissions are presented as carbon dioxide equivalents in line with international standards for reporting and carbon trading. To compute the carbon equivalent of the emission of carbon dioxide, divide by 44/12.
	The figures shown do not include any adjustment for the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EUETS), which was introduced in 2005.
	The figures shown for the UK for 2006 are provisional. EU emissions figures for 2006 will be published in January 2008.

Carbon Emissions: Televisions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the  (a) cost of and  (b) volume of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the energy consumption of televisions in use in the UK which possess a screen blanking feature.

Joan Ruddock: No information is available about the number of televisions in use in the UK which have a screen blanking facility (which allows the selected channel to be received in audio only). Therefore, it is not possible to make an estimate of the cost or volume of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from use of these appliances.

Climate Change

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to promote the prevention of deforestation  (a) in England and  (b) globally as a means of combating climate change; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Tree felling in England is controlled by the Felling Regulations, which are administered by the Forestry Commission. Deforestation is also subject to the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. Permission is not normally granted for deforestation unless it is for the recreation of priority open habitats, which have been lost due to planting with trees; often non-native conifers.
	Under the Kyoto Protocol, global emissions from deforestation are already taken into account by developed countries in meeting their emissions reduction commitments. The UK and other European Union (EU) member states are negotiating on how to include emissions from deforestation from developing countries in future climate change agreements, on a voluntary basis.
	This process is also supported by UK and EU action to tackle illegal logging and improve sustainable timber procurement, working with international partners including producer and consumer countries. Reducing emissions from deforestation is a key aim of the Environmental Transformation Fund announced in the 2007 Budget. The UK has already announced that 50 million from this Fund will go towards reducing deforestation in the Congo Basin, by promoting sustainable forestry.

Coastal Areas: Access

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many miles of UK coastline are not accessible to  (a) walkers and  (b) climbers.

Jonathan R Shaw: Natural England's report to the Government on coastal access in February 2007 estimated that nationally 70 per cent. of the English coast has some access for walkers by right or other recognised provision; for example on public rights of way, open country under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, national trails or National Trust land. However, these existing rights and provisions for access within the 70 per cent. often fail to join up in a way that gives continuous access around the coast.
	Natural England's estimate is that at least 30 per cent. of the English coast has no legal or other recognised access at all. This varies between individual regions.
	Natural England carried out some work on issues related to climbing, however no detailed information on the amount of English coast not accessible to climbers has been collected.
	The provision of access in Scotland and Wales is a matter respectively for the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments.

Countryside Agency: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by the Countryside Agency.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Countryside Agency employed two media and parliamentary officers (nearest equivalent) until it was dissolved by Act of Parliament (Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006) on 30 September 2006. The successor body created on 1 October 2006 from the merger of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service-Natural England currently employs 6 six full-time press officers.

Dartmoor

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received about access to Vixen Tor for climbers.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have received no recent representations about Vixen Tor.

Deer: Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received about damage caused by deer to forestry.

Joan Ruddock: My Department received a number of representations about the damage caused by deer, including forestry damage, during the consultation on a proposed Deer Regulatory Reform Order that took place last year.
	Following this consultation, and in response to problems associated with deer damage, the Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order SI 2007/2183 was made on 25 July 2007. The Order, which comes into force on 1 October 2007, amends the Deer Act 1991 to increase the number of management options available to land managers so that they are better equipped to mitigate the damage caused by deer.

Domestic Wastes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made by  (a) the Environment Agency and  (b) his Department on the level of burning of domestic waste by households in England.

Joan Ruddock: No specific assessment has been made by my Department or the Environment Agency on the level of burning of domestic waste by households in England.
	Complaints about statutory smoke nuisance from domestic bonfires, or the burning of other materials, are made at the local authority level. Statistics are not held centrally by my Department.
	DEFRA carried out research into emissions of dioxins from the burning of domestic waste in 2006. The review recommended that further work should be done to establish what practical measures could be taken to reduce dioxin emissions from bonfires and domestic combustion and, consequently, exposure to dioxins. Further work in estimating dioxin emissions from domestic burning is due to start in October 2007.

Domestic Wastes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding the waste and resource action programme provided to each local authority in  (a) Wales,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Joan Ruddock: Any funding allocated to local authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Domestic Wastes: Recycling

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effect on the recycling rates of local authorities of introducing an alternate weekly bin collection scheme.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has not commissioned or evaluated research into the effects on recycling performance of local authority decisions to move away from weekly collections of residual waste. However, of the top 20 highest recycling local authorities in England in 2005-06, 19 were operating an alternate weekly collection scheme for residual waste.
	Recent research into kerbside systems in Scotland, by Remade Scotland(1), reported that the factors influencing high recovery rates for dry recyclate collections were found to be collection frequency, collection capacity, number of materials collected, and collection frequency of residual waste. One of the findings of the report was that dry recyclate schemes operated in conjunction with a fortnightly residual waste collection produced 65 per cent higher recovery rates than those associated with a weekly residual collection.
	(1) http://www.remade.org.uk/documents/reports/Kerbside%20 Collection%20-20Factors%20for%20Success_14112Q2570. pdf

Energy: Conservation

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Energy Efficiency Commitment will include ring-fenced funding to assist hard to reach rural households.

Phil Woolas: The Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) is an obligation on electricity and gas suppliers in Britain to promote and deliver improvements in energy efficiency in households.
	While it does not have a specific fuel poverty objective, the EEC does require suppliers to direct 50 per cent. of energy savings towards a priority group of low-income customers. Energy suppliers are free to find the most cost-effective ways to meet their obligations.
	DEFRA held a statutory consultation on the third phase of EEC (to be renamed the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) over the summer. Final proposals for the relevant legislation are expected to be put to Parliament this winter.
	The consultation proposals suggested new flexibilities in the way that energy suppliers could meet their priority group obligations, encouraging them to work with customers in particularly hard to treat houses, such as those off the gas grid or with solid walls.

Energy: Conservation

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to provide energy efficiency measures suitable for rural consumers in hard to heat homes that do not respond to traditional energy efficiency measures;
	(2)  what  (a) steps his Department is taking and  (b) advice and support is available to encourage rural consumers to become more energy efficient.

Phil Woolas: The Government are committed to improving the energy efficiency of homes across England in both rural and urban areas.
	Our fuel poverty policies also aim to improve the energy efficiency of homes of the fuel poor. For those eligible clients, including rural customers who do not have access to mains gas, Warm Front has looked to widen the support it can offer by considering alternative (often low carbon) technologies for inclusion within the scheme. Further pilot schemes are now being instigated to test other technology for Warm Front suitability, including solar thermal and air source heat pumps.
	The Warm Front scheme not only offers the installation of heating systems and insulation for eligible households, but also provides advice on improving the efficiency of the dwelling. Eaga Plc, the Warm Front scheme manager, has worked in conjunction with other organisations such as Age Concern, Farm Crisis Network and the Pension Service in rural communities across England to promote energy efficiency and other key support services.
	We continue to fund the Energy Saving Trust, which provides information and advice to individuals and householders, including rural households. We have launched the Act on CO2 brand, including an advertising campaign and on-line carbon calculator to raise awareness of the link between personal behaviour and climate change.

English Nature: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by English Nature.

Jonathan R Shaw: English Nature employed four full-time press officers. In October 2006, English Nature merged with part of the Countryside Agency (which employed two full-time press officers) and part of the Rural Development Service (which was covered by DEFRA's press officers) to form Natural England. The number of press officers employed by Natural England is six.

Environment Agency: Flood Control

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration is being given to making changes to the Environment Agency's budget in the light of this summer's floods.

Phil Woolas: My Department's formal Comprehensive Spending Review settlement for 2008-09 to 2010-11 is expected to be announced later this month. This will be followed by the Department's own financial allocation process, during which the Environment Agency's budget will be determined. This process will be based on careful prioritisation across the Department and all its sponsored bodies. The Secretary of State has already announced an overall increase of 200 million to 800 million in 2010-11 for Government spending on flood and coastal erosion risk management. Allocations between operating authorities will be confirmed following the medium term planning exercise for capital projects later this year.

Environment Agency: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by the Environment Agency.

Phil Woolas: The information that we have from the Environment Agency is that it currently employs 24 press officers across eight regions. They maintain a 24 hour service providing media information in the event of an environmental incident.

Environment Agency: Thames Valley

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been allocated for maintenance to the Environment Agency's Thames Valley West region in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency's maintenance expenditure for the West Area of Thames Region in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2005-06 3.76 
			 2006-07 3.80 
			 2007-08 4.33

Environment Protection

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current specific heads of expenditure are for maintenance work carried out by the Environment Agency; what proportion is being spent on  (a) dredging,  (b) weeding and  (c) other environmental measures in 2007-08; and if he will list the measures.

Phil Woolas: The current Environment Agency headings for flood risk management maintenance expenditure include channel maintenance, structure maintenance, defence maintenance, operation, MEICA (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation), buildings and ground maintenance, incident response, and non-recurring maintenance.
	In 2006-07, the proportion of maintenance expenditure on each of the following headings was as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Dredging 3.8 
			 Aquatic weed removal 10.2 
			 Grass cutting, tree removal and pollarding 6.6

Flood Control

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy of the Environment Agency is for handling river surges following heavy rainfall; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency uses the latest technologies to monitor rainfall, river levels and sea conditions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once potential flooding is detected, flood warnings are issued to people and organisations in the areas at risk.
	During flood events, the Environment Agency attends Gold and Silver Commands to advise on the current and forecast flooding situation. They participate in the co-ordinated response to major incidents along with the emergency services, local authorities and other bodies.
	After flooding has subsided, the agency undertakes reviews of the event. These include mapping the depth and extent the water reached to improve flood risk mapping, flood forecasting and responses to town and country planning proposals. Repairs are carried out on the agency's assets and blockages that might increase the risk of flooding are removed. Drop-in centres are held for the public to share their experience and obtain advice.
	The agency is investing some 436 million this year in the maintenance and improvement of river flood management measures which reduce the risks from high flood levels.

Flood Control

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of flood defences supervised by the Environment Agency and owned by third parties were classed as in good or better condition in April 2007.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency monitors the condition of those flood defence assets on Main River and the coast that are maintained by third parties.
	The proportion (by length) of flood defences such as raised walls and embankments, maintained by third parties, that were in good or better condition in April 2007 was 46 per cent., with a further 49 per cent. in fair condition.
	The proportion (by number) of flood defence structures, such as sluices and outfalls, maintained by third parties, that were in good or better condition in April 2007 was 59 per cent., with a further 33 per cent. in fair condition.
	These assessments are based on visual inspections.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who is responsible for surface water drainage in  (a) Scotland and  (b) England.

Phil Woolas: This is a devolved issue, and in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD).
	In England, the responsibility for managing surface water drainage is shared by several different authorities. The Environment Agency has a general supervisory duty over all matters relating to flood management and permissive powers to manage flood risk from main rivers and the sea. Local authorities are responsible for surface drainage from roads and public spaces, and the operation of highway drains; they also have permissive land drainage responsibilities for non-main rivers. Water and sewerage companies have a statutory duty to ensure the effective drainage of premises in their area, including any piped surface water arising from them. Internal drainage boards have permissive powers to undertake work to secure drainage and water level management within their districts, which cover 10 per cent. of the country's land area (mostly rural areas currently). The Highways Agency covers drainage from trunk roads.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria he will use when deciding how to spend his Department's additional budget for flood defences for 2010-11; whether the money will apply to planned projects or additional projects; and how the money will be shared between capital expenditure and maintenance expenditure.

Phil Woolas: Subject to the Department's formal comprehensive spending review settlement for 2008-09 to 2010-11, allocations between operating authorities will be confirmed following the medium-term planning exercise for capital projects later this year using the prioritisation process.
	At any one time, there are numerous projects at a variety of stages of development and the additional funding announced will be used to bring forward those schemes which address the highest risk from flooding and coastal erosion.
	DEFRA does not fund maintenance expenditure by local authorities or internal drainage boards. While DEFRA funds the majority of the overall flood risk management activity of the Environment Agency, we look to them to decide the most appropriate balance between capital expenditure and maintaining existing defences.

Flood Control

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Environment Agency expects to publish amendments to its flood risk maps available to the public on their website based on data collected from events since May 2007.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency expects to have reviewed the data from the summer floods and incorporated any amendments to its flood map on the internet by the end of January 2008.

Flood Control

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals he has to extend the national guidance on managing flood risk.

Phil Woolas: The Government continue to work closely with the Environment Agency, other delivery partners and stakeholders, to ensure that any guidance on managing flood risk is fit for purpose. Our Making Space for Water strategy is looking at a number of areas where guidance could be refined, in particular for appraisal of flood defence schemes.

Flood Control

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being considered to create, manage and improve existing flood plans, drainage and ditches systems to act as natural flood defences for future flood protection.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency exercises general supervision over all matters relating to flood defence and is the principle flood risk management operating authority in England. Local authorities and internal drainage boards also have permissive powers to manage flood risk and drainage in certain areas. All operating authorities are responsible for considering appropriate measures to manage flood risk in their areas of responsibility in line with their own operational guidance and DEFRA's policy guidance. DEFRA guidance encourages operating authorities to work with natural processes where possible, and to consider the benefits of improving the storage capacity of flood plains and ditch systems where this is a viable means of managing flood risk.
	The Environment Agency also advises local planning authorities on the appropriateness and impacts of development in areas of flood risk with a view to making sure that the capacity of the functional flood plain to reduce risks is given appropriate consideration in land use planning.

Flood Control: Agriculture

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance is being given to farmers on  (a) contour ploughing and  (b) grass and natural planting along river banks to help manage flood waters in high risk areas.

Phil Woolas: A review of the impacts of land use and management on flood generation has been carried out through the joint DEFRA/Environment Agency research project FD2114 (2004). This identified a number of measures that can help to mitigate localised flooding by delaying run-off; including cultivation techniques such as contour ploughing and land management measures such as the use of grass buffer strips.
	The Environment Agency also provides guidance on the use of contour ploughing to reduce run-off and erosion through its Best Farming Practice booklet (revised in 2003).
	As part of DEFRA's Making Space for Water strategy, two projects are examining the role that rural land use and land management can play in managing flood risk at the farm and catchment scale. These projects will deliver recommendations in 2008 and inform future advice to farmers and farming representatives.

Flood Control: Berkshire

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what capital projects there are in the Environment Agency's forward programme to alleviate flooding along the River Loddon in Berkshire.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency's Capital Programme includes the development of a flood risk management strategy for the River Loddon catchment. This is due to start in 2008 or 2009.
	The decision to progress any specific options identified in the strategy will depend on their relative priority, when compared to other projects nationally, and the availability of funding.

Flood Control: Coastal Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current estimate is of the coastal surge risk over the next four years; and how this estimate will be kept under review.

Phil Woolas: The current estimate of surge risk is linked to the estimate of storminess over the next four years. Analysis of the weather over the last 50 years has shown a trend for strengthening winds in the Atlantic with wide yearly variability.
	However, as the drivers for storm surge events are directly weather related, it is not possible to forecast their occurrence with any certainty more than 48 hours in advance.
	The Environment Agency now oversee the Storm Tide Forecasting Service, the tide gauge network, which forecasts and measures surge events, with Wavenet, which measures wave size and strength. These services are provided to the agency to support their short-term forecasting in partnership with the Met Office, Proudman Oceonographic Laboratory and the Government scientists at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

Flood Control: Coastal Areas

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the Environment Agency to publish guidance to landowners on the maintenance of sea defences.

Phil Woolas: Information for owners and occupiers of land adjacent to sea defences in England is available from the Environment Agency's website at:
	http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/maintenance_1830292.pdf
	I have also arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Environment Agency has also produced a leaflet summarising the landowner policy options. This is currently being printed and should be available in all the Environment Agency's area offices by the end of October.

Flood Control: Essex

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the Environment Agency to publish the  (a) Blackwater and Colne Estuary Management Plan and  (b) Crouch and Roach Estuary Management Plan.

Phil Woolas: Subject to approval, the Environment Agency expects to publish the Blackwater and Colne Estuary Strategy in the summer of 2009.
	The Agency submitted the Roach and Crouch Estuary Strategy to DEFRA in 2006. This was acknowledged, although not formally approved, in May 2007 as representing the right long term approach and framework for action for both these estuaries.
	The Strategy is a public document and has been approved by the Anglian (Eastern) Regional Flood Defence Committee and the Environment Agency Board. The Agency is progressing work on the ground in accordance with the Roach and Crouch Strategy and will bring the Strategy in line with the new DEFRA guidance when it is next reviewed in four years time.

Flood Control: Essex

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the condition of sea defences in Maldon district.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's flood related work and grant aids individual capital improvement projects undertaken by local authorities and internal drainage boards. The programme to manage risk is driven by these operating authorities; DEFRA does not carry out works, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake.
	The sea defences in Maldon district are inspected annually by the Environment Agency. The last inspection was in late September and October 2006. This year's inspections will begin shortly. The findings are used to plan and prioritise refurbishment work for future years.

Flood Control: Essex

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many properties in  (a) Maldon district and  (b) Chelmsford borough are located in areas at one in 200 year risk of flooding.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency estimates that the number of properties located in areas with a one in 200 annual probability of tidal flooding is as follows:
	
		
			  Location  Number of properties at risk 
			 Maldon district 3,715 
			 Chelmsford 1,366

Flood Control: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review the allocation of flood protection funds in Pickering.

Phil Woolas: Capital funding is allocated by the Environment Agency to individual projects by applying a prioritisation system to all proposals on a national basis.
	The Environment Agency will consider the priority of the proposed flood alleviation scheme for Pickering in light of the flooding this summer, however they do not expect it to change significantly.
	The Environment Agency is working with Ryedale district council to look at lower cost options to reduce flood risk in Pickering, such as home owners installing flood barriers to doors. The Environment Agency is also working closely with the town council which intends to develop an emergency flood plan for the town in addition to setting up a flood warden scheme.

Flood Control: Oxford

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency has taken to divert water on to farmland adjacent to the River Thames above  (a) Oxford and  (b) Reading to avoid urban flooding.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency has not taken any such steps.
	During periods of moderate flow, all the weirs on the River Thames are operated to maintain the upstream water levelor headwater levelat, or close to, the standard headwater level for each weir. Standard headwater levels are set by the Environment Agency in connection with their statutory powers as the navigation authority for the River Thames.
	After periods of wet weather, Environment Agency staff progressively open the gates of each weir as far as necessary to accommodate any increase in flow while still maintaining standard headwater level.

Flood Control: West Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what additional support his Department is providing to ensure that those areas in Westmorland and Lonsdale which are most at risk do not suffer flooding;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the risks to areas in Westmorland and Lonsdale that are most susceptible to flooding.

Phil Woolas: Overall Government funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management will rise from the 600 million this year to 800 million in 2010-11. Investment is prioritised in order to reduce the threat to people and their property and deliver the greatest environmental, social and economic benefit, consistent with the Government's sustainable development principles.
	Within the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, the Environment Agency has an ongoing programme of prioritised maintenance works for flood defences and river systems. The Agency also has a programme of investigations and studies which aim to identify improvement works for inclusion in their medium to long-term capital investment programme.

Floods: EU Grants and Loans

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what EU funding is available in the event of emergency flooding; what applications he has made to access this funding; what criteria apply for such applications to be granted; and whether matched funding is required.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up in November 2002 as a result of the extreme flooding disaster that hit Central Europe in the summer of 2002. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to the regions of Europe in dealing with an extraordinary major or regional disaster of natural causes, including severe flooding. The fund is specifically targeted at support for emergency relief action, cleaning up and getting destroyed infrastructure back into working order. Match funding is not required under the EUSF.
	Before a member state can apply for support from the fund, the total amount of damages incurred in a major disaster must exceed a specific level. The EUSF's eligibility threshold for what are termed National Level Disasters is for all damages, insurable and uninsurable, to exceed 3 billion (2002 prices) or 0.6 per cent. of the affected country's Gross National Income (GNI), whichever is the lower, in order to qualify for assistance. The UK current estimate for total damage suffered in the June and July floods is 4 billion (2.9 billion).
	An application for support from the EUSF in respect of the June and July flooding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was lodged with the Commission on 20 August and is currently being discussed with them. The application is not a bid as it will be for the Commission to decide whether, and if so at what level, support will be offered. Applications by other member states to the EUSF have resulted in offers of support ranging between 2.5 per cent. and 5 per cent. of the total damage suffered.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the cost of the 2007 foot and mouth outbreak to  (a) farmers within the surveillance zone and  (b) farmers in England.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 17 September 2007
	DEFRA has made an initial estimate of the total costs of the outbreak to the UK of 20 million, based on an economic model that has been developed for foot and mouth disease. The full impact will depend on domestic and international restrictions that remain in place and the estimate may be revised as further data become available. Disaggregated estimates of the cost to farmers in the surveillance zones or the whole of England would be unreliable.

Forestry Commission: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by the  (a) Rural Payments Agency and  (b) Forestry Commission.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Rural Payments Agency employs one person who spends half of their time on press office tasks.
	The Forestry Commission is a cross border body and has two press officers for GB and International issues and two press officers for England. In addition a further communications professional provides cover for holidays and weekends.

Government Laboratories

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the requests made to the Government for funding to maintain, upgrade or replace facilities at government-run laboratories for which his Department is responsible in each year since 2001, broken down by laboratory.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 17 September 2007
	The Government-run laboratories for which DEFRA is responsible are the Centre for Environment Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, the Central Science Laboratory and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. DEFRA agrees annual business plans and budgets with these agencies. It is then for the respective laboratory management teams to decide how to maintain, upgrade or replace facilities within that funding structure. Major capital investment projects (for example, laboratory replacement) are agreed with and funded by DEFRA.

Hazardous Substances: Waste Disposal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings he has had with companies about  (a) the polluter pays principle and  (b) the disposal of toxic waste.

Joan Ruddock: Neither my ministerial colleagues nor I have held any recent meetings with companies specifically on the polluter pays principle or on toxic waste deposits. However, Lord Rooker and my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), then Minister of State at DEFRA, met Environment Agency officials on 22 May 2007 concerning toxic waste disposal.
	The polluter pays is an underpinning principle of European and domestic environmental legislation under which those responsible for pollution must pay the costs of measures necessary to eliminate that pollution, or reduce it to comply with the standards laid down by public authorities.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what average amount households paid in 2006 to top up a Warm Front grant for an energy efficiency measure; and how many such households paid to top up their Warm Front grant in 2006.

Phil Woolas: The average top up or excess paid per household in England in 2006-07 was 437.86. The number of excess payments was 30,666.
	It is not possible from the data held to determine exactly who paid the excess in each case. In addition to individual householders, a number of third parties such as charities, local authorities and installers have all contributed to excess payments in 2006-07.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households in England received Warm Front grants in 2006; how many rural households in England received Warm Front grants in 2006; and what the average value of a Warm Front grant to a rural household in England was in 2006.

Phil Woolas: A total of 253,079 households in England received Warm Front grants in 2006-07. Of these, 37,496 were classified as rural households under the criteria set out by the Office for National Statistics. The average grant to those rural households was 1,104.44.

Housing: Energy

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards achieving the target laid down in section 217 of the Housing Act 2004 to ensure that by 2010 the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in England should increase by 20 per cent. compared with 2000; what progress was made in each year since the Act came into force; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The energy efficiency of the housing stock in England cannot be monitored directly but is modelled, using data from periodic surveys of the housing stock coupled with data on the installation of energy saving measures. Based on the delivery of measures by existing energy efficiency programmes, we expect to be on track towards the 20 per cent. target. DEFRA is currently analysing the effects of energy efficiency policies but cannot yet quantify the improvement precisely.
	However, there is one positive indication that efficiency has already started to improve substantially. Against a long-term trend of rising gas consumption, household gas usage fell by over 8 per cent. over the period 2004-06. Of this, up to half could be attributed to higher prices; weather changes had little effect. Improved energy efficiency for heating, particularly higher levels of insulation (installed via the energy Efficiency Commitment) and more efficient boilers (required by Building Regulations), is likely to have contributed to the remaining reduction of gas, the principal heating fuel. However, more detailed analysis is required to quantify this effect, and to express it in terms of improved energy efficiency.

Housing: Floods

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of developments in the last decade have been on flood plains according to the Environment Agency's records.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency does not hold records on the proportion of developments built on flood plains. However, it does record planning permissions that are granted against its advice on flood risk grounds. These are reported annually in the Agency's High Level Target HLT5 reports.
	In the last reporting period (April 2005 to March 2006), 95 per cent. of cases where the Environment Agency objected on flood risk grounds were determined in line with the Agency's advice, compared with 92 per cent. in 2004-05.

Housing: Floods

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when he expects to announce access to the full flood mapping data and flood defence information for existing and planned defences; and on what basis this will be provided to insurance companies;
	(2)  if he will differentiate between the types of property in flood mapping data and flood defence information; and if he will publish the address point data as opposed to postcode level to insurance companies.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency's flood maps provide information on flood risk from rivers and the sea. Full flood mapping data and flood defence information is already available in response to requests for access. A standardised set of information is available to insurance companies, among others, for re-use under licence, subject to the Environment Agency's standard licence terms and conditions.
	The Environment Agency's Flood Map and National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data are also available, under licence, subject to the Environment Agency's standard licence terms and conditions. Both data sets show areas of land at risk of flooding.
	The Environment Agency does not offer a product that differentiates between types of property because the requirements of different users vary, and because the chance of a property flooding is dependent on many factors including floor levels, construction methods and construction materials. Subject to the intended use of the resulting data, licensees may combine Environment Agency data with their own property type datasets to produce a dataset that meets their specific needs.
	The latest National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA 2006) data are available to insurers in a format which contains both address point references and spatial and postcode formats.

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of properties flooded during June and July 2007 which were built after 1945.

Phil Woolas: No estimate has been made to date on the number of properties flooded during June and July 2007 that were built after 1945. Local authorities have provided information about the number of residential properties and businesses affected by the summer floods, however this does not include an assessment of property age.
	The Environment Agency is gathering data and information as part of its review of the summer 2007 floods and this will include the categorisation by age of properties affected by flooding from rivers. This information should be available by the end of November.
	As we announced in July, a full review of the flooding, its causes and subsequent management to see if any lessons need to be learned about how to manage and respond to this type of event in the future is in progress. The review is being led by an independent Chair, Sir Michael Pitt.

Joint Nature Conservation Committee: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee employs no full-time press officers. Press duties are shared across its communications team and, in total, are estimated to occupy less than 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts.

Landfill: Hazardous Substances

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of landfill sites which have been used for the disposal of toxic waste  (a) in Buckingham constituency and  (b) in the UK in the last 10 years.

Joan Ruddock: There were no landfill sites used for the disposal of hazardous waste in Buckinghamshire between 1997 and 2002. From 2002, the following four landfill sites have been used for the disposal of hazardous waste in Buckinghamshire.
	i) Gerrards Cross
	ii) Newton Longville
	iii) Broad Lane
	iv) Calvert Pit
	Of these sites, only Calvert Pit and Newton Longville currently accept hazardous waste. The acceptance of hazardous wastes is controlled by the terms and conditions of the permits for the sites and within the constraints originating from the Landfill Directive. All other landfill sites accepting hazardous waste in Buckinghamshire were closed before 1997.
	Data taken from the Environment Agency's waste regulatory information system and landfill capacity data show that there have been 333 landfill sites used for the disposal of hazardous waste in England and Wales in the last 10 years. Data for the whole of the UK are not collected centrally.

Lighting: China

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response the Government have made to the EU's extension for one year of duty on imports from China of energy saving light bulbs.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK is opposed to the European Commission's proposal to extend anti-dumping duties on imports from China of energy saving light bulbs for a further 12 months.

Members: Correspondence

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter to the Under-Secretary of State (Biodiversity) dated 15 June 2007 from the hon. Member for Hyndburn on Mr. and Mrs. Riding.

Phil Woolas: I apologise for the delay. A response was sent on Tuesday 21 August.

National Parks: South Downs

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if he will consider extending the period of public consultation on the boundary change designation of the South Downs National Park to include evidence relating to the Western Weald;
	(2)  whether consideration has been given to extending the period of public consultation on the boundary change designation of the South Downs National Park.

Jonathan R Shaw: After careful consideration, I announced on 27 July that, while the formal deadline for responses remained 13 August, the Secretary of State would consider all objections and representations which were received by 24 September 2007.
	The purpose of this consultation was to elicit comments on any new relevant matters which we thought were most likely to fall into one of the following categories:
	(i) any implications for the Designation Order (as varied by the Variation Order) arising directly as a result of revised National Parks legislationamendments to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 made by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006, sections 59 and 99;
	(ii) any implications for the Designation Order (as varied by the Variation Order) arising directly as a result of the High Court and Court of Appeal Judgments on the challenge by 'Meyrick Estate Management Ltd.' relating to the New Forest National Park;
	(iii) the possible alternative boundary line from north of Petersfield running east across to Pulborough;
	(iv) possible additional areas recommended for inclusion within the proposed South Downs National Park.

Ofwat: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by Ofwat.

Phil Woolas: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales.
	It employs two full-time press officers.

Radioactive Wastes

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites in the United Kingdom are authorised under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to dispose of  (a) low level and  (b) very low level radioactive waste.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency authorises the accumulation and disposal of radioactive wastes under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. According to national data, in England and Wales there are some 535 waste producing sites that are authorised to dispose of low level radioactive waste and some 560 waste producing sites that are authorised to dispose of very low level radioactive wastes. Some waste producing sites will hold authorisations for both low level and very low level radioactive waste disposal.

Recycling: Directories

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of printed telephone directories  (a) delivered and  (b) recycled in the last 12 months; and what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of printed telephone directories.

Joan Ruddock: No estimate has been made by my Department on the number of printed telephone directories delivered or recycled or a specific assessment made of their environmental impact.
	Telephone directories are recycled every year, most often into card and corrugated board, loft insulation, packaging materials, jiffy bags, egg boxes, animal bedding and newsprint.
	Paper has been identified as a material where reduced waste and greater recycling can yield significant environmental benefits. The Government have already finalised voluntary producer responsibility agreements which will encourage, in particular, increased recycling of newspapers, magazines and direct mail with the Newspaper Publishers Association, the Periodical Publishers Association and the Direct Marketing Association respectively.
	As they explore the scope for the recycling and recovery of waste paper, the Government will also be looking to other sectors of the paper industry to establish similar agreements or incorporate them into the development of the existing agreements. These would cover office paper, free newspapers, catalogues and directories and possibly other products as well.

Recycling: Packaging

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to increase the rate of recycling of packaging.

Joan Ruddock: Two sets of Regulations in the UK, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 and the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 (as amended) have already increased the levels of recovery and recycling across all packaging materials and are driving down the sizing and weight of packaged items. Packaging recycling has doubled since 1997 and statutory binding targets will ensure further improvements.
	The current UK targets are as shown in the following table, but are subject to change, due to an upcoming consultation.
	
		
			   EU target (percentage)  2008  2009  2010 
			 Paper target 60 67.5 68 68.5 
			 Glass target 60 73.5 74 74.5 
			 Aluminium target  32.5 33 33.5 
			 Steel target  58.5 59 59.5 
			 Metals 50
			 Plastic target 22.5 24.5 25 25.5 
			 Wood target 15 20.5 21 21.5 
			 Recovery target 60 68 69 70 
		
	
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which is partly funded by DEFRA, is responsible for delivering greater material efficiency, including increasing recycling rates. Its work on packaging waste interlinks with many aspects of recycling, such as working with local authorities to advise on recycling facilities and overcome barriers to recycling. WRAP also has a behavioural change programme which targets consumer recycling and explains why this is important.
	WRAP is working with the retail industry to increase the recycling content of packaging and is targeting the supply chain through the voluntary 'Courtauld Commitment' agreement. Through its business growth and manufacturing programmes, WRAP is also working to ensure that the necessary facilities are in place in order to increase the capacity and capability of recycling and to increase the use of recycled materials in manufacturing.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers are employed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Joan Ruddock: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has one press officer and a public relations manager and press assistant who also work with the media. This team of three is managed by a head of corporate communications with a wider brief. Wakehurst Place, home of the Millennium Seed Bank, has one press and marketing officer.

Vandalism

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the total cost of graffiti to the UK economy in a year.

Jonathan R Shaw: No estimate has been made of the cost to the UK economy of graffiti. Local authorities have powers to remove graffiti and can recover the costs of doing so on surfaces that are in or on the street.

Waste Management

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to work with the Department of Communities and Local Government on the implementation of the Waste Strategy for England 2007; and whether he will integrate  (a) small,  (b) medium and  (c) large-scale biological treatment facilities within this implementation.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has established a Waste Strategy Board to drive forward and monitor delivery of the Waste Strategy for England 2007 across Government. The board includes representatives from the other Government Departments with a key interest in waste, including Communities and Local Government (CLG), and we will be working closely with these Departments in implementing the strategy.
	My Department is also working with CLG to take forward specific aspects of the strategy, including planning for waste infrastructure, pollution control, waste aspects of the local government performance framework, and proposals to remove the ban on local authorities using financial incentives to increase recycling by households.
	The strategy sets out the measures that the Government have put in place to secure the investment in infrastructure needed to divert waste from landfill. It remains vital that regional spatial strategies and local development documents look forward and make adequate provision for the appropriate types and scales of infrastructure and waste treatment facilities needed, including biological treatment plants. It is also important for specific, suitable sites to be identified in plans.

Water: Emergencies

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he plans to reassess the provision of water supplies in civil emergencies;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of Severn Trent's capacity with regard to  (a) water tankers and  (b) water bowsers and their replenishment during crises;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the capacity of Severn Trent to cope with the recent flooding in Gloucestershire;
	(4)  what requests for assistance his Department received from  (a) Severn Trent and  (b) other water companies to manage water supplies in the recent floods in Gloucestershire and the surrounding area;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with Severn Trent on civil emergencies.

Phil Woolas: There are a number of reviews being carried out by different organisations into the flooding that occurred in the summer. One of these is a wide-ranging and thorough review that has been established by the Government to identify any lessons to be learned for the way that we manage and respond to flooding events such as those experienced recently. This review will cover issues such as loss of drinking water supplies. It is being led by an independent chair, Sir Michael Pitt. We are aiming to publish initial findings by the end of the year and subsequently a formal report. A call for evidence is currently lodged on the Cabinet Office and UK Resilience websites. Until these reviews have been completed and the recommendations considered, it would not be right to comment or speculate at this stage on any actions that might need to be taken.
	However, I can confirm that during the flooding of Gloucester and the surrounding area, and following a specific request from the Severn Trent Water, my Department was able to facilitate the use of further road tankers from private companies to assist in the filling of the water bowsers.

Water: Shortages

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which water companies had a hose pipe ban in force on  (a) 26 July and  (b) 8 October.

Phil Woolas: On 26 July 2006, the following water companies had hosepipe bans in force in some or all of their supply areas: Thames Water, Southern Water, Mid Kent Water, South East Water, Three Valleys Water, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Folkestone and Dover Water and Cholderton and District Water.
	All of these bans remained in force on 8 October 2006 with the exception of that for Folkestone and Dover Water. No hosepipe bans were in force on 26 July 2007 and there are none in force at present.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carer Benefits

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to improve the level of benefits for carers.

Anne McGuire: We fully recognise the valuable contribution made by all carers. From this month, we have further raised the carer's allowance weekly earnings limit from 87 to 95, allowing carers to earn more before their benefit is affected.
	The Government are working with carer's organisations and others to review our National Carers Strategy. In this review we are examining carer's benefits in depth. We plan to publish the review's conclusions in March 2008.

Child Maintenance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken to agree an award of child support was over the last 12 months.

James Plaskitt: The agency is currently clearing 72 per cent. of applications within 12 weeks. This is compared with just 53 per cent in March 2006, before implementation of the operational improvement plan.
	I might add that 83 per cent. are cleared within the 26-week target against just 67 per cent. before the operational improvement plan.
	For all applications cleared in June 2007, the average length of time taken to agree an award of child support was 91 days from first contact to clearance. It was 143 days before the operational improvement plan.

Worklessness

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of trends in the level of worklessness among under 25 year olds since 1997.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier to the hon. Members for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) and for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb).

Social Fund

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the social fund.

James Plaskitt: In 2006-07 Jobcentre Plus paid:
	more than 270,000 Community Care Grants
	nearly 1.3 million Budgeting Loans
	over 1 million Crisis Loans
	over 40,000 Funeral Payments
	over 235,000 Sure Start Maternity Grants
	all with a total value of 1 billion.
	These payments helped around 2 million people to cope with one off expenses that otherwise they would not have been able to afford.

Social Fund

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider the merits of establishing a separate credit bank social fund for low earners; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: As part of its financial inclusion strategy, the Government are committed to increasing the availability of affordable forms of credit for those who find it difficult to access mainstream lenders such as banks. Potential for reform of the Social Fund will be considered in this context.
	The 42 million Growth Fund, which is a key element of our strategy, is doing much to increase the availability of affordable credit, having made in excess of 30,000 loans to financially excluded people in its first few months, with many thousands more excluded people to be helped as expansion of this sustainable service continues. In parallel with this we are working closely with the credit union movement and investing 1 million of the Growth Fund to test ways in which the recently announced Transaction Banking Service can be introduced to enable even greater service through credit unions for those who find it difficult to access mainstream financial services.
	Furthermore, as announced in Financial Inclusion: the way forward, the Government has established a working group, involving the banking industry and the Financial Inclusion Taskforce, to consider ways in which the capacity and coverage of third sector lenders can be increased nationwide, through the support of the banking sector and the Government.

Crisis Loans

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the adequacy of telephone-based systems for the delivery of crisis loans.

James Plaskitt: The modernisation of our telephone service has greatly improved access to crisis loans. It has resulted in a more efficient service for our customers, and provided more flexibility to meet call demand.

Council Tax Benefit

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effects of aligning starting thresholds for council tax benefit with those for income tax.

James Plaskitt: This was one of the recommendations in the recent report from the Communities and Local Government Select Committee and we will publish our formal response shortly.

Child Poverty

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest assessment is of the trend in levels of child poverty.

Caroline Flint: There have been a number of significant reforms to our tax and benefit system. From April 2009, in real terms, households with children will be, on average, 1,800 per year better off, while those in the poorest fifth of the population will be, on average 4,000 a year better off than in 1997.

Access to Work Programme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used to measure the effectiveness of the access to work programme.

James Plaskitt: There are several criteria used to measure the effectiveness of access to work. The level of expenditure and the number of people helped into work by the scheme are the two key criteria.

Child Support Agency: Telephone Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what period of time the Child Support Agency Midlands Business Unit retains recordings of telephone calls from members of the public.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Jos Joures, dated 8 October 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently on annual leave I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what period of time the Child Support Agency Midlands Business Unit retains recordings of telephone calls from members of the public.
	Prior to 26 March 2007, telephone calls made to the Child Support Agency were recorded and retained for 3 weeks. From that date, voice recording functionality was enhanced to allow telephone calls to be retained for 14 months. This functionality applies to any call made through the Agency's call routing system. Certain calls, for example where a client calls a caseworker's number directly, are not recorded.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will discuss with ministerial colleagues steps to facilitate easier access to Judicial Review for parents owed money via the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: A Judicial Review claim may be issued in the administrative court by any person with sufficient interest in the matter to which the application for Judicial Review relates.
	Matters relating to court proceedings are the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice who advise that those applying for a Judicial Review are expected to exhaust whatever alternative remedies are available to them under the particular process they are concerned about.
	The Child Support Agency has already, through the Operational Improvement Plan made considerable improvements in client service over the last year with new scheme uncleared applications at their lowest level since January 2004 and 72 per cent. of new cases cleared within 12 weeks. These improved service levels, complemented by a thorough and tested appeals process ensure clients have access to the necessary support and advice in all their dealings with the Agency. It is therefore more appropriate to continue to improve client service, through the Operational Improvement Plan enabling the Child Support Agency to deliver more money to more children, than to place additional and unnecessary burdens on our courts.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to  (a) register private agreements for child maintenance and  (b) set standards, monitor and enforce such private registration; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We believe that the Commission should form a view as to whether it should run a register, potentially on a test basis first, to assess take-up, its cost effectiveness and the relative stability of the agreements reached.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the new maintenance assessment under the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is designed to compensate for the costs of raising children; how the formula has been derived; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The principles of the basic maintenance formula under the Commission will be based on the structure of the formula introduced in 2003 with percentage rates based on the non-resident parent's income and number of qualifying children.
	We are satisfied that the percentage rates strike the right balance between the needs of the child and the other expenses that non-resident parents have to meet.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any of the main objectives of the planned Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will be to collect the arrears of child maintenance owed to parents with care; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Commission's main objective is to maximise the number of effective maintenance arrangements in place.
	This main objective is supported by two subsidiary objectives. The first is to encourage and support voluntary maintenance arrangements. The second is to support the making of applications to the statutory maintenance service and to secure compliance with parental obligations under the Child Support Act when this is appropriate.
	Securing compliance with parental obligations includes securing payment of any arrears owed under the Child Support Act.

Children: Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward plans to allow the courts to make child maintenance orders without the agreement of both parents where the courts are dealing with other financial aspects of divorce or separation; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Government have no plans to allow courts to impose child maintenance orders on parents. We want to promote a collaborative process that encourages parents to reach agreement about maintenance wherever possible. Where parents are unable to agree they may apply to the Child Support Agency for a maintenance calculation.

Children: Poverty

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) people and  (b) people in families with children live in households with below 40 per cent. of median income.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not available.

Children: Poverty

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a system in his Department for the collection of information on child poverty at county level.

James Plaskitt: The official measure of child poverty is derived from an annual survey, the Family Resources Survey. While this gives an accurate picture of the national position, the survey sample is too small to allow for disaggregation to county level. However, I recognise the importance of measuring child poverty at a more local level and have asked analysts in my Department to investigate the feasibility of producing an alternative measure that will give an indication of progress locally.

Crisis Loans: Telephone Services

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether the Government plan to increase the number of staff manning the Jobcentre Crisis Loan helpline; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average time was that a caller to the Jobcentre Crisis Loan helpline had to wait before the call was answered in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked Lesley Strathie to reply to your questions asking whether the Government plans to increase the number of staff manning the Jobcentre Crisis Loan helpline; and what the average time was that a caller to the Jobcentre Crisis Loan helpline had to wait before the call was answered in the latest period for which figure are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Ms Strathie as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. I am replying on her behalf as Acting Chief Executive.
	Average call waiting times are not available as we do not have a national Crisis Loan helpline. Telephone calls for Crisis Loans are taken at Benefit Delivery Centres around the country using separate 0800 numbers. Centralisation of Benefit Delivery is not yet complete. In areas where Social Fund Benefit Delivery Centres have yet to be rolled out customers may call their local office on a local number.
	To help with the increasing demand in Crisis Loan applications we have, since early July, started to re-deploy staff from the Contact Centre Directorate to handle telephone enquiries about Crisis Loans. As a result there will be an extra 500 people taking calls from customers applying for Crisis Loans.

Departments: Cabinet Committees

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Cabinet Committee meetings he has attended in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 10 September 2007
	A full list of all Cabinet Committees, including their membership and terms of reference, can be found in the Library of the House. It is Government practice to place such a list in the Library approximately every six months. Previous lists contain the membership information requested. Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees, including the number of meetings held and attendance, is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Departments: Cornwall

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) meetings and  (b) correspondence has taken place between his Department and Cornwall county council on joint delivery of services at a local level.

Anne McGuire: The Pension Service and Jobcentre Plus have had and continue to have regular communication with Cornwall county council.
	There has been dialogue between Pension Service Local Service staff and Cornwall county council through meetings and correspondence since January 2004. The last meeting which took place on 11 September 2007, resulted in an agreement being reached on the joint delivery of services at a local level and a pilot is scheduled to take place from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008.
	Jobcentre Plus (JCP) has also had regular meetings and correspondence with Cornwall county council. The external relations managers and partnership managers of JCP Devon and Cornwall district work closely with a variety of groups and boards from Cornwall county council to achieve joint delivery of services.
	The information which is available on meetings and correspondence is presented in the following tables.
	
		
			  Correspondence and meetings between the Pension Service Local Service and Cornwall county council since January 2004 
			  Meetings  Correspondence  Joint workshops  Job shadowing  Joint fact finding visit 
			 22 April 2004 14 January 2004 21 July 2005 Over several days in July 2005 22 February 2005 
			 May 2004 16 September 2004 6 December 2005 23 February 2007 0 
			 21 September 2004 6 February 2006 0 0 0 
			 October 2004 15 February 2006 0 0 0 
			 6 January 2005 28 June 2006 0 0 0 
			 4 May 2005 5 July 2006 0 0 0 
			 4 July 2005 21 July 2006 0 0 0 
			 8 August 2005 29 June 2007 0 0 0 
			 16 December 2005 6 August 2007 0 0 0 
			 22 September 2006 0 0 0 0 
			 20 November 2006 0 0 0 0 
			 2 March 2007 0 0 0 0 
			 11 September 2007 0 0 0 0 
			  Notes: 1. It has not been possible to identify every contact made. 2. Listed are the known dates of correspondence and meetings.  Source: Cornwall Pension Service Local Service 
		
	
	
		
			  Correspondence and meetings between Jobcentre Plus and Cornwall county council since January 2007 
			  Meetings  Correspondence 
			 Eight meetings with local partnership managers in early 2007 0 
			 30 April 2007 0 
			 1 June 2007 0 
			 13 July 2007 0 
			 30 July 2007 0 
			  Source: Devon and Cornwall Jobcentre Plus.

Departments: Flowers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on flowers in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Junior Ministers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total estimated annual cost is of  (a) expenses,  (b) salary,  (c) office space,  (d) administrative support and  (e) special advisers for the new Under-Secretary of State in his Department.

Anne McGuire: The information requested would be available only at disproportionate costs. A list of special advisors by department and pay band will be published in due course. Details of ministerial salaries are available in the House Library and at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/parliamentary/pay/ministerial/index.asp

Departments: Taxis

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on taxis in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Telephone Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed by call centres used by his Department in each year since 1997.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's staff were employed in call centres in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 26 July 2007
	The information available is recorded in the following table and provides the number of staff, expressed as 'full time equivalents' (FTE)(1), employed in call centres as at 1( )April for each year.
	(1) Many contact centre staff work part time, FTE is a means of expressing staff numbers in a consistent way (for example two staff working 0.5 x standard working hours is equivalent to one FTE).
	
		
			   Jobcentre Plus( 1)  The Pension Service( 2)  Disability and Carers Service( 3)  Child Support Agency  Debt Management 
			 1998   108.27   
			 1999   125.31   
			 2000   128.84   
			 2001   446.63   
			 2002   459.44   
			 2003   456.22   
			 2004 2,118.39  529.25 562.36  
			 2005 3,992.56 10,216 582.87 481.96 475.13 
			 2006 6,075.73 8,566 511.95 541.75 387.37 
			 2007 6,382.54 8,175 515.88 508.04 440.63 
			 (1) Jobcentre Plus information details the position at March in each year. (2) The Pension Service operates an integrated business model, where Pension Centres perform both contact centre and claims processing functions. It is not possible to make precise allocations between the functions. Information provided includes telephony, processing, support and management. (3) Disability and Carers information up to 20000-01 is for Benefit Enquiry Line only. Information from 2001-02 includes the Disability Helpline and Benefit Enquiry Line.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent by his Department on staff away days in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Visits Abroad

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which overseas visits were undertaken by Ministers in his Department in the course of their duties in the last year; which overseas visits Ministers intend to take in the next 12 months; and what the purpose was of such visits in each case.

Anne McGuire: Ministers have made a number of overseas visits over the year to look at other countries' approaches to social security and welfare reform and will continue to do so where necessary. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.
	Full information about all ministerial trips can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, all Cabinet Minister overseas visits costing in excess of 500 are published on an annual basis. The latest list was published on 25 July. Copies of the lists are available in the libraries of the House or at
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers/
	From 2007-08 the annual list will be expanded to include a breakdown of travel by all Ministers.

Disability Rights Commission: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers are employed by the Disability Rights Commission.

Anne McGuire: The Disability Rights Commission was dissolved on 1 October and has been subsumed within the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. Prior to its dissolution the Disability Rights Commission had seven employees involved in press office activity, four of whom were part-time.

Employment Schemes: Disabled

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with disabilities were on employment programmes in 2007; and what the Department's targets for obtaining jobs for people with disabilities was.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Specialist disability employment programmes 2006-07 
			  Programme  Number of people 
			 Access to Work 28,500 people 
			 New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) 60,940 customers registered with NDDP 
			 Work Preparation 8,100 customers started on the programme 
			 WORKSTEP 12,800 people 
			 Residential Training Colleges 1,140 customer starts on the programme 
			 Remploy 10,020 disabled people supported on Workstep by Remploy 
		
	
	
		
			  Mainstream employment programmesparticipants with a disability indicator (at February 2007) 
			  Programme  Number of participants 
			 New Deal for Young People 13,650 
			 New Deal 25+ 18,330 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 3,720 
			 New Deal 50+ 21,360 
			 New Deal for Partners 680 
			 Employment Zones 6,730 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 
		
	
	The Department does not obtain jobs for people, but rather provides advice and support to help people engage with the labour market. Although there are no specific targets, the Department has a Public Service Agreement to significantly increase the employment rate of disabled people and reduce the difference between their employment rate and the overall rate in the three years to March 2008.

Hard-to-Help Families

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider the merits of improving arrangements to facilitate multi-agency mentoring and follow-through for hard-to-help families with multiple problems; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Our recently published Green Paper In work better off: next steps to full employment (Cm: 7130) sets out proposals for improving our successful record of working in partnership with the private and voluntary sectors, other government Departments and agencies, both nationally and locally.
	In addition, DWP is working with the Cabinet Office and other Departments to develop integrated services for the most disadvantaged families. The Families at Risk Review (led by the Social Exclusion Task Force) is seeking to ensure that services that work with the whole family are provided in a tailored, flexible and holistic way.

Health and Safety Executive: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers are employed by the Health and Safety Executive.

Anne McGuire: At 1 April 2007, HSE employed eight full-time equivalent press officers, one of whom was on maternity leave.

Housing Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcome was of his investigation of the feasibility of collecting information on the cost of housing benefit paid to households renting properties formerly owned by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Local authorities supply management information on housing benefit through a monthly claimant level data extract.
	Since April 2007 this data extract should include, where applicable, the date when an individual housing benefit claimant had their tenancy transferred from a local authority property to a registered social landlord property. Only transfers occurring after 1 April 2007 will be captured through this data.
	We are unable to identify where a housing benefit claimant is resident in a property that was formerly owned by the local authority if the transfer occurred prior to April 2007, or if it occurred when a different tenant was in place.
	This data extract is not currently available for all local authorities and validation of this information needs to be carried out before the data can be used.

Housing Benefit: Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of housing benefit fraud have been detected and resolved using the  (a) Benefit Fraud Inspectorate,  (b) Housing Benefit Matching Service,  (c) remote access terminals and  (d) Anti-Fraud Incentive Scheme.

James Plaskitt: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, Remote Access Terminals and the Anti-Fraud Incentive Scheme are not dedicated parts of the process of detection of individual cases of benefit fraud. Therefore the requested figures are not available.
	Information from the Housing Benefit Matching Service is not available broken down separately into fraud and error.

Incapacity Benefit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming incapacity benefit in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance claimants 
			  Quarter ending  Jarrow  South Tyneside  North East  GB 
			 February 1997 5,800 12,100 198,700 2,837,100 
			 February 1998 5,700 11,800 191,700 2,809,000 
			 February 1999 5,500 11,200 185,700 2,740,500 
			 February 2000 5,980 11,460 184,210 2,724,030 
			 February 2001 6,030 11,550 188,610 2,792,030 
			 February 2002 6,030 11,690 187,910 2,787,220 
			 February 2003 6,020 11,570 188,790 2,818,570 
			 February 2004 5,900 11,280 185,660 2,819,160 
			 February 2005 5,600 10,830 180,030 2,799,870 
			 February 2006 5,380 10,450 172,910 2,747,490 
			 February 2007 5,210 10,160 166,790 2,704,100 
			  Notes: 1. February 1997-February 1999 figures are uprated to WPLS figures, and rounded to the nearest 100. 2. February 2000-February 2007 figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.  Source: DWP Information Directorate 5 per cent. sample and 100 per cent. WPLS.

Local Authorities Pensioner Forums

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what grants have been made to local authorities to fund local pensioner forums in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: None.

New Deal Plus for Lone Parents

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where the seven pilot schemes for the New Deal Plus for Lone Parents are taking place; in which parliamentary constituencies they are taking place; how long the pilots will last; and what criteria will be used to evaluate their effectiveness.

Caroline Flint: New deal plus for lone parents was introduced in April 2005 in North London, South East London, Bradford, Dudley and Sandwell, and Leicestershire. It was extended to Cardiff and Vale and Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders in October 2006. The current pilots, which run until March 2008, are open to eligible lone parents in non-London areas and eligible lone and couple parents in London areas.
	The Child Poverty Strategy 'Working for Children', published in March 2007, announced the extension and expansion of the new deal plus pilots from April 2008 to March 2011. In pilot locations outside London, key elements of new deal plus for lone parents will be extended to eligible couple parents, and the pilots will be expanded to cover all London areas and will continue to be available to eligible lone and couple parents.
	The effectiveness of the pilots is defined in terms of increased exits from benefit and increased employment outcomes compared with similar lone parents in non pilot areas. Evaluation also examines the effectiveness of delivery and impacts on the wider economy.
	Early findings from the pilots were included in 'The lone parent pilots after 12 to 24 months: an impact assessment of In-Work Credit, Work Search Premium, Extended Schools Childcare, Quarterly Work Focused Interviews and New Deal Plus for Lone Parents', DWP Report 415, published in March 2007, and in 'New Deal Plus for Lone Parents qualitative evaluation' DWP Report 426, published in May 2007. Both reports are available in the Library. Qualitative findings from the Scottish and Welsh pilots, and findings from the next wave of Impact Assessments will be published next year and placed in the Library.
	Details of the Parliamentary constituencies in which the new deal plus for lone parents pilots are currently operating are in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal for lone parent Jobcentre Plus Pilot District  Parliamentary constituency 
			 North London (part of North and North East London Jobcentre Plus District) Finchley and Golders Green 
			  Hendon 
			  Edmonton 
			  Enfield, North 
			  Hornsey and Wood Green (the new deal plus for lone parents pilots do not cover Hornsey) 
			  Tottenham 
			 South East London Jobcentre Plus District Bexleyheath and Crayford 
			  Erith and Thamesmead 
			  Old Bexley and Sidcup 
			  Eltham 
			  Greenwich and Woolwich 
			  Lewisham, East 
			  Lewisham West 
			  Lewisham, Deptford 
			 Dudley and Sandwell (part of the Black Country Jobcentre Plus District) Dudley, North 
			  Dudley, South 
			  Halesowen and Rowley Regis 
			  Stourbridge 
			  Warley 
			  West Bromwich, East 
			  West Bromwich, West 
			 Leicestershire (part of the Leicestershire and Northampton Jobcentre Plus District) Leicester South, 
			  Leicester, East 
			  Leicester, West 
			  Harborough (Market Harborough) 
			  Blaby 
			  Hinckley and Bosworth 
			  Loughborough 
			  Charnwood 
			  North West Leicestershire 
			  Rutland and Melton (the new deal plus for lone parents pilots do not cover Rutland) 
			 Bradford (part of West Yorkshire Jobcentre Plus District) Bradford, North 
			  Bradford, South 
			  Bradford, West 
			  Shipley 
			  Keighley 
			 Cardiff and Vale (part of South East Wales Jobcentre District) Vale of Glamorgan 
			  Cardiff, Central 
			  Cardiff, North 
			  Cardiff, South and Penarth 
			  Cardiff, West 
			 Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Jobcentre Plus District Edinburgh, West 
			  Edinburgh, East 
			  Edinburgh, South West 
			  Edinburgh, North and Leith 
			  Edinburgh, South 
			  Livingston, Broxburn, East Calder, Mid Calder 
			  East Lothian, Mussleburgh, Haddington 
			  Midlothian, Loanhead, Dalkeith, Gorebridge 
			  Roxburgh and Selkirk, Galashields, Penicuik 
			  Bathgate

Occupational Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of occupational pension schemes in the UK which  (a) have completed wind-up and  (b) are in the process of winding up; what proportion began wind-up after 2 May 1997 in each case; and what his estimate is of the number of members of such schemes.

Mike O'Brien: The following information was provided by the pensions regulator.
	(a) The number of schemes in the UK that have wound up since 2 April 1997 is 62,814
	(b(i)) The number of schemes that have commenced, but not yet completed, winding up is 8,088 with a total membership of 427,456; and
	(b(ii)) The number of schemes that have been winding up since 2 May 1997 is 7,804. This is 96.5 per cent. of the schemes at (b(i)). The total membership of these schemes is 411,943. This is 96.4 per cent. of the membership at (b(i)).
	 Notes:
	1. A wound up scheme is one which has notified the pensions regulator that it has completed winding up procedures.
	2. A winding up scheme is one which has notified the pensions regulator that it has commenced winding up procedures.
	3. The data supplied by the pensions regulator are current as at 3 September 2007. They come from the merger of data derived from old systems (i.e. before 6 April 2005), and have been enhanced and updated with information received via the new scheme returnswhich were introduced as part of the Pensions Act 2004.
	4. Total membership includes active, deferred and pensioner members.

Pension Protection Fund: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers are employed by the Pension Protection Fund.

Mike O'Brien: As at 27 July 2007 the Pension Protection Fund has one press officer.

Pensions Regulator: Information Officers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers are employed by the Pensions Regulator.

Mike O'Brien: As at 27 July 2007 the Pensions Regulator has two press officers.

Pensions: Forecasts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the Retirement Pension Forecasting Team is no longer able to provide forecasts of additional state pensions; when the situation will be resolved; and how many people he estimates will be affected.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The computer systems used to produce state pension forecasts are being updated to reflect the new state pension rules included within the Pensions Act 2007 and therefore the Pension Service retirement pension forecasting team is temporarily unable to provide a state pension forecast to people who reach state pension age on or after 6 April 2010. We aim to have the system changes in place by autumn 2008.
	People reaching state pension age after 2010 who contact the Pension Service retirement pension forecasting team will still be able to obtain personalised information including:
	an indication of the current number of qualifying years and how many more are needed to get a full basic state pension under the new rules; and
	details of how changes to the state pension rules may affect the individual's state pension position.
	This means people can still receive the help they need to plan for their retirement, and the vast majority of customers using these transitional arrangements have been happy with the service provided.
	People who reach state pension age before 6 April 2010 can continue to receive state pension forecasts from the retirement pension forecasting team. These forecasts include information on both basic and additional state pension.
	Approximately half of the people who use the forecasting on request (either online or by phone) service are affected by the current suspension. Based on previous requests for state pension forecasts in 2005-06 we estimate the suspension will impact 300,000 individuals.
	The combined pension forecasting service is also suspended until autumn 2008 and this affects approximately 4 million individuals.
	In the meantime the Pension Service are working closely with their IT suppliers to explore ways in which the timetable for reflecting state pension changes in state pension forecasting systems could be advanced.

Pensioners: Overseas Residence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in respect of how many pensions the UK Pension Service submitted papers to the International Pension Service in 2006; and, of these, how many people received their overseas pension entitlements within four months.

Mike O'Brien: This information is not collected or recorded by the Department.

Personal Injury: Compensation

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many personal injury claims by members of the public from local authorities were reported to his Department, in accordance with the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Personal injury claims against local authorities 
			  Financial year of recovery  Number of claims 
			 2004-05 16,204 
			 2005-06 12,839 
			 2006-07 9,058 
			  Notes: 1. The figures quoted are for personal injury claims made by the public against local authorities. 2. All cases settled prior to 1 January 2005, which showed that there were no recoverable benefits due to the Secretary of State, have been archived, and are therefore not included in these figures.  Source: Figures produced by the Compensation Recovery Unit.

Remploy: Closures

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what criteria were Remploy factories selected for closure.

Anne McGuire: The main selection criteria used by Remploy in proposing which of their factories should close was long-term business sustainability. The Company examined, business by business, which factories had the best opportunity to reach their commercial objectives. Finally, in each location where closure was being considered, Remploy reviewed whether they would be able to support their disabled employees in mainstream employment.
	The Secretary of State will make a decision on the future of Remploy, once he receives Remploy's final proposals later this year. Until then, no Government decision will be made concerning Remploy's factories.

Social Security Benefits

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition his Department uses of habitual residence for the purpose of claiming benefit; and what definition is used in other European Economic Area States.

James Plaskitt: Entitlement to income-related benefits requires that a person has a right to reside and be habitually resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland (generally known as the Common Travel Area). If a person does not have a right to reside then he or she is treated as not being habitually resident and is not entitled to those benefits. A person who has a right to reside must also show that he or she is habitually resident in the UK unless he or she falls into an exemption category, such as that for EU workers.
	The term habitual residence is not defined in UK social security legislation but there is both domestic and EC case law on how that term should be interpreted. In order to determine whether a person is habitually resident, decision makers will, on the basis of the guidelines set out in the case law, consider a variety of factors about the person's circumstances. These include, for example, his or her attachment to and intentions in the UK; his or her reasons for coming here; and whether the person has family in the UK etc. Benefit decision-makers must be satisfied on objective grounds that a person who claims income-related benefits after arriving in the country has genuinely adopted the UK as his or her place of habitual residence.
	Where other European Economic Area States use the term habitual residence as a condition of entitlement to benefit, the term should be used in accordance with their domestic law and EC case law.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evaluation he has made of the abuse of accommodation address agencies by perpetrators of  (a) benefit fraud and  (b) other criminal activity relating to the responsibilities of his Department.

James Plaskitt: No such evaluation has been made.

Social Security Benefits: Illegal Immigrants

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he has put in place to track the amount of benefits paid erroneously to illegal immigrants.

James Plaskitt: Illegal immigrants are not entitled to DWP administered benefits. Rigorous checking processes are built into the benefit application systems to ensure that the gateway to the benefits system is secure.

State Retirement Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of successful claims for state retirement pension was made  (a) by telephone interview,  (b) by personal interview,  (c) by post and  (d) online in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  All state pension applications processed( 1)  (successful and unsuccessful) 1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007 
			   Percentage of total applications processed 
			 Telephone Interview 28 
			 Personal Interview 4 
			 Post I 66 
			 Online 2 
			 Total 100 
			 (1) Figures of successful applications are not recorded.  Source: Weekly Performance data supplied by pension centres and local service system data August 2007.

State Retirement Pensions: Widowed People

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information is available to the public in the form of leaflets on the switching process between widow's pension and state retirement pension.

Mike O'Brien: The switching process between widow's pension and state pension is covered in three leaflets:
	State Pensionchoices available to you (code: BR33)
	A guide to Bereavement Benefits (code: NP45)
	A guide to State Pensions (code: NP46).

Unemployment Benefits

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress is being made on reducing the complexity of benefits acting as a barrier to work.

James Plaskitt: We are committed to removing any barriers to the smooth transition from benefits to work.
	We are determined to make work pay and we have increased the minimum income that people can expect on moving into work, thereby removing barriers and improving financial incentives to work.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used by the Pensions Service to dispatch claim forms for winter fuel allowance to people who will be aged 60 by the end of the qualifying week.

Mike O'Brien: Each year the Pension Service dispatch winter fuel claim forms to customers using the following criteria:
	Customers whose 60th birthday falls between the day following the previous year's winter fuel payment qualifying week, and the last day of the current year's winter fuel payment qualifying week.
	Customers within the stated birth range for whom we have an address of at least two lines and a postcode, title, surname and forename, gender, national insurance number and verification level.
	Customers who request a claim form
	Female customers who are identified as already being in receipt of state pension are automatically entitled to a winter fuel payment and do not need to claim.

Women's National Commission: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many press officers are employed by the Women's National Commission.

Barbara Follett: No press officers are employed by the Women's National Commission.

Work Opportunities: Disabled People

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve work opportunities for disabled people.

Anne McGuire: We have a range of programmes designed to provide help to people with disabilities and in the year to April 2007 these programmes supported more than 50,000 people to get into or retain employment.
	We are currently reviewing our employment services for disabled people and intend to consult on our proposals later in the year.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Solicitor-General how many press officers are employed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Vera Baird: The Crown Prosecution Service employs seven press officers at its headquarters. These consist of: four information officers; two senior information officers; and one chief press officer.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.

Antisocial Behaviour: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued to 10 to 17-year-olds in Cambridgeshire in each year since their introduction; and how many in each year had individual support orders attached.

Vernon Coaker: The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) is given in the following table. There have been no individual support orders (ISOs) issued in Cambridgeshire up to the end of December 2005 which is the latest period for which data are available. In April this year we completed a survey of 60 areas on support available for young people on ASBOs. The headline results support anecdotal information from practitioners that where ISOs are not being made it is mostly because they are already receiving other interventions from the Youth Offending Team (YOT). The courts are obliged to consider making an ISO every time they make an ASBO on a 10 to 17-year-old and must give a reason in open court if they decide not to do so. The use of ISOs continues to be actively promoted by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and the Home Office as an aid to helping YOTs fulfil their role in tackling antisocial behaviour.
	
		
			  Persons aged 10 to 17: Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued at all courts as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service by area and year, April 1999( 1)  to December 2005 
			   Number 
			  CJS  a reaCambridgeshire  
			 April 1999 to May 2000 (1) 
			 June to December 2000 0 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 10 
			 2004 3 
			 2005 14 
			 Total 30 
			 (1) No age details available for the period April 1999 to May 2000.  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Antisocial Behaviour: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in  (a) Cambridgeshire,  (b) south Cambridgeshire and  (c) east Cambridgeshire in each year since their introduction.

Vernon Coaker: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Nu mber of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, by period and where restrictions are imposed within local authority areas, up to 31 December 2005 
			   Cambridgeshire  East Cambridgeshire DC( 2)  South Cambridgeshire DC( 3) 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2005 101 6 7 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(1) 5 n/a n/a 
			 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000 1   
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001 2   
			 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 2   
			 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 15   
			 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 26   
			 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 50 6 7 
			 n/a = not available (1) Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa). (2) Three orders cover all E and W. (3) Two orders cover all E and W.  Notes: 1. This local authority area table differs from criminal justice system area (cjsa) tables in that an issuing court can be outside the area in which the have been imposed. For example, an issuing court may be in Hampshire (cjsa) but restrictions apply solely to a local authority area within Dorset. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Antisocial Behaviour: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were breached in Cambridgeshire in each year since their introduction.

Vernon Coaker: The information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  B8ii: Number of ASBOs proven in court to have been breached( 1)  in Cambridgeshire as reported to the Home Office, in each year from 1 June 2000 and 31 December 2005 
			   Total ASBOs breached in: 
			  CJS area  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Cambridgeshire  3 2 8 14 22 
			 (1) Some of the ASBOs in the table have been breached in more than one year and have therefore been counted more than once. Breaches are counted in this table in the area of breach.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Assaults on Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on police officers there were in London in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		
			  Assaults( 1)  on police officers from 2000-01 to 2004-05( 2,3) 
			   London( 4) 
			 2000-01  
			 2001-02 1,500 
			 2002-03 1,941 
			 2003-04 2,397 
			 2004-05 2,667 
			 (1) Data collated on behalf of and published by HMIC in its Chief Inspector of Constabulary's Annual Reports. (2) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. (3) Data for 2005-06 and 2006-07 have been collated but have not yet been validated. HMIC have advised that they will no longer be publishing this dataset in their annual report. (4) Metropolitan police and City of London police. Metropolitan police was unable to provide data for 2000-01.

Assets Recovery Agency: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Assets Recovery Agency.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for the director of the Asset Recovery Agency.

Association of Chief Police Officers: Information Officers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Asylum: Eritrea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has had made of the safety of refugees returned to Eritrea.

Liam Byrne: The safety on return of unsuccessful asylum seekers from Eritrea is, as with all other nationalities, considered on an individual basis against the background of current information from a wide range of well-recognised sources about the situation in Eritrea. Those who are found not to be in need of international protection and have no legal basis of stay in the UK may return voluntarily. Where an individual does not return voluntarily, removal may be enforced. Enforced removals will only be undertaken where we are satisfied the individual has no protection needs.

Border and Immigration Agency

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of lost documentation have the Border and Immigration Agency received from members of the public in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: For the period 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007, 183 complaints of lost documentation were recorded centrally. However, there will be instances where individuals will have written direct to various business areas which will not have been recorded centrally. It is not possible to state a more precise figure.

Border and Immigration Agency

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Border and Immigration Agency has paid compensation to members of the public for lost documentation over the last 12 months; and how much compensation was paid over that period.

Liam Byrne: Such a level of detail is not required for the purposes of our ordinary financial reporting or accounting. This information is therefore not routinely available from one source within the Department and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Border and Immigration Agency

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) average and  (b) target length of time taken between the receipt of a letter by the Borders and Immigration Agency from an hon. Member and the sending of a substantive reply has been in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: In the period 1 January to 31 March 2007, the last period full data is available for, the average length of time it took the Border and Immigration Agency to reply to a letter from an hon. Member was 17.34 working days.
	The Border and Immigration Agency's target is to respond to 95 per cent. of Members' letters on immigration and nationality related matters within 20 working days. The Agency has already improved significantly from 34 per cent. in 2004 to 54 per cent. in 2005, 78 per cent. in 2006 and should achieve more than 85 per cent. in 2007.

Cannabis

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research studies the Government have  (a) undertaken,  (b) commissioned and  (c) reviewed into the impact of the 2004 reclassification of cannabis on (i) levels of cannabis use and (ii) levels of harm from cannabis use; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: In 2005 the Government asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to carry out a review of the classification of cannabis which took into account the harms from cannabis use on both physical and mental health, and the levels of cannabis use following reclassification. The evidence it reviewed is set out in Annex 4 of its Report, Further consideration of the classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, together with prevalence data extracted from the British Crime Survey.

Central Police Training and Development Authority: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Central Police Training and Development Authority.

Tony McNulty: The Central Police Training and Development Authority (Centrex) ceased to exist on 1 April 2007.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.

Computers: Waste Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department received from the disposal of information technology equipment in the last year for which figures are available; and what avenues were used for such disposal.

Liam Byrne: The core Home Office, including the Border and Immigration Agency, does not own information technology (IT) assets other than internally developed software. Hardware is leased under service contracts.
	For the financial year 2006-07, the only IT asset disposal within the Home Office group, including executive agencies, occurred in the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) which received a total of 2,781.73 from the disposal.
	The IPS uses a company called RD Trading on an ad-hoc basis to remove information technology equipment that is no longer required.

Contracts

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances her Department awards contracts to outside organisations without undertaking a tendering process.

Liam Byrne: Home Office procurement policy is to comply with its legal obligations, including those under the EU procurement rules, and public procurement policy. Goods, works or services are acquired through competitive tendering unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary, and all purchasing should be based on value for money criteria having regard to propriety and regularity.
	Tendering processes may be omitted with regard to small, irregular, low value spot purchases such as individual travel and expense transactions where tendering costs outweigh the value for money benefits of a tendering process.

Criminal Record Bureau

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the differences are between basic and enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks; and what guidance has been given to public authorities on which type of CRB check should be commissioned.

Meg Hillier: A basic disclosure is the lowest level of disclosure. This would contain details of convictions considered to be unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 or state that there are no such convictions. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) does not currently provide a basic check.
	There are two levels of disclosures currently available from the CRB, known as standard and enhanced. The two checks are available in circumstances where an employer is entitled to ask exempted questions under the ROA. This includes any organisation whose staff or volunteers work with children or vulnerable adults.
	Standard disclosures are available to anyone working with children or vulnerable adults, as well as certain other occupations and entry into professions as specified in the ROA. They show spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. If the post involves working with children or vulnerable adults, the following may also be searched:
	Protection of Children Act (POCA) List.
	Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List.
	Information that is held under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 (formerly known as List 99).
	Enhanced disclosures are available to anyone involved in regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. They are also available for certain licensing purposes and judicial appointments. Enhanced disclosures contain the same information as the standard disclosure with the addition of any relevant information held by local police forces and disclosed at their discretion.
	It is ultimately for each employer and not the CRB to determine what level of check is required for specific employment positions. Such determination is based on their legal and other responsibilities and subject to any statutory requirements as set by their own regulatory authorities.

Detection Rates

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for publication of crime detection rates by Basic Command Unit for 2006-07; and for what reason they were not published with the recorded crime statistics on 19 July 2007.

Tony McNulty: The content of the annual bulletin on crime is reviewed each year and as part of this a decision was made that it would be more appropriate to focus this bulletin on crime and victimisation and to plan to produce a separate bulletin specifically on detections rates.
	Given the work involved in producing the crime bulletin it was not feasible to produce the bulletin on detections at the same time. However, some information on detections was included in Appendix 3 of the annual bulletin that appeared on 19 July.
	The statistical bulletin on detection of crime by the police in 2006-07 was published on 20 September 2007. The information is too large to be included within the  Official Report but it can be accessed on-line at the following web addresses. I will arrange for the relevant tables to be placed in the Library of the House.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/bcu2-0607.xls and
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/bcu3-0607.xls

Driving Under Influence: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drink-driving tests were carried out in the Peterborough constituency in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Data collected centrally relate to police force areas only and are not available at constituency level.

Driving: Insurance

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions took place against uninsured drivers in the Northumbria police force area in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The latest figures are for the period 1997 to 2004 and are given as follows. Figures for 2005 will be available later this year.
	
		
			  Proceedings at magistrates courts for the offence of using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks( 1) , Northumbria police force area, 1997 to 2004 
			   Total proceedings 
			 1997 12,470 
			 1998 11,837 
			 1999 13,296 
			 2000 13,195 
			 2001 12,504 
			 2002 12,309 
			 2003(2) 12,951 
			 2004 11,685 
			 (1) An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s. 143 (2). (2) As from 1 June 2003, driving a motor vehicle while uninsured against third party risks became a fixed penalty offence.  Notes:  It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences may be less than complete. Work is underway to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Ministry of Justice reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated.  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) commissioned into the effect of the Government's 10-year drug strategy on reducing availability at street level of illicit drugs; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The following projects  (a) undertaken by Home Office researchers looked at the effectiveness of attempts to reduce the availability of drugs at street level:
	An evaluation of the Street Level Up Approach Pilot Project in four sites in England, assessing the use of intelligence to disrupt drug trafficking. The final report was not published but circulated on a restricted basis.
	An evaluation of three initiatives established to tackle middle market drug trafficking: Operation Middle Market, Merseyside Middle Market Drugs Unit and Tarian Regional Task Force. A report summarising learning from the research was published for a police audience. Copies of the report are only available on request from the relevant Head of the Research Unit.
	The following research projects  (b) commissioned by the Home Office looked at the effectiveness of attempts to reduce the availability of drugs at street level:
	A study of retail drug markets and the local action taken against them in eight deprived neighbourhoods. A report is available on the Home Office RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors240.pdf
	A project examining the implementation of new powers to close crack houses in four case study areas. Findings were published on the Home Office RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/dpr42.pdf
	An estimate of the size of the UK illicit drug market for six categories of illicit drugs for the reference year 2003-04. A report is available on the Home Office RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/rdsolr1606.pdf.

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what research studies the Government have  (a) undertaken,  (b) commissioned and  (c) reviewed which compare (i) the levels of illicit drug use and (ii) the levels of drug-related harm associated with international classification/regulatory systems; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what indicators her Department uses to measure the impact of changing the status of a drug within the ABC classification system on  (a) levels of illicit drug use and  (b) levels of drug-related harm; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The indicators used to measure illicit drug use and drug-related harm are not predicated on the Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) classification system.
	Indicators on prevalence of illicit drug use among the general adult population in England and Wales are set out in reports based on the annual British Crime Survey. Indicators relating to children of school age are published in reports of the annual survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary schoolchildren in England. The Drug Harm Index (DHI) provides an overall measure of the level of drug-related harm and how it changes over time. The operation of the DHI is set out in Measuring the harm from illegal drugs using the Drug Harm Index (Home Office Online Report 24/05).

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research studies the Government have  (a) undertaken,  (b) commissioned and  (c) reviewed into the impact of changing the status of a drug within the ABC classification system on (i) availability and price at street level of illicit drugs and (ii) the levels of drug-related harm; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Since 1997 only two drugs have changed in status within the Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) classification systemcannabis in 2004 and methamphetamine in January 2007. The Government undertake several surveys to monitor evidence of trends in availability and price, but these are not predicted on the ABC classification system.
	The Arrestee Survey and the annual survey of drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England provide data on the perceived availability of drugs. Data on price at street level has in the past been collected by the National Criminal Intelligence Service, using information generated during the course of police operations. The Drug Harm Index (DHI) provides an overall measure of the level of drug-related harm and how it changes over time. The operation of the DHI is set out in Measuring the harm from illegal drugs using the Drug Harm Index (Home Office Online Report 24/05).

Drugs: Offences

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances US citizens with past drugs offences are not allowed to enter the UK.

Liam Byrne: US citizens and other non visa nationals do not require a visa if seeking entry as a visitor to the UK for six months or less, however they are required to satisfy an Immigration Officer that they intend to stay for the period they have stated and that they do not intend to work or claim public funds.
	In the event that the Immigration Officer becomes aware that the passenger has a criminal record or has been involved in criminal activity then they may be refused leave to enter.

Fixed Penalties

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued in the last 12 months; and how many have been contested in court.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2004 (latest available) 3,435,254 motoring fixed penalty notices were issued. 2005 data will be available later this year.
	Information on recipients of motoring offences fixed penalty notices who elect to challenge the penalty in court is not identifiable separately within the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
	In addition, penalty notice for disorder (PND) may be issued to offenders aged 16 and over for a specified range of minor disorder offences. PNDs have a 21 day suspended enforcement period during which the recipient must either pay the penalty shown on the notice in full or request a court hearing.
	In 2005 146,481 PNDs were issued, of which 1,588 were contested in court. The equivalent information for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.

Foreign Workers: Care Homes

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department has had with  (a) the Department of Health and  (b) devolved administrations on the implications of restrictions in the number of work permits issued to overseas care workers.

Liam Byrne: Work permits are issued where employers are able to justify that the work permit criteria are met.
	The Border and Immigration Agency has held meetings with the Department of Health since January 2007 to develop updated guidance for issuing work permits for senior care workers.
	The Border and Immigration Agency has consulted via correspondence with the Scottish Executive Health Department; Care Council for Wales (on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government); and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland since April 2007 to develop updated guidance for issuing work permits for senior care workers.

Foreign Workers: Care Homes

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions her Department has had with care providers on the issuing of work permits for overseas care staff.

Liam Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency has conducted normal business correspondence relating to individual work permit applications and meetings with individual employers at their request. The purpose of such meetings is to discuss issues specific to work permit applications submitted by that employer.
	The Border and Immigration Agency holds quarterly Sector Advisory Panel meetings with representatives from key industry bodies (including Sector Skills Councils) and other Government Departments. A key feature of each meeting is to discuss labour market issues affecting the relevant industry such as training, recruitment, skills and pay.
	The Border and Immigration Agency has also held meetings with Skills for Care and Development, which is the Sector Skills Council for the social care work force in the UK, since January 2007 to develop updated guidance for issuing work permits for senior care workers.

Foreign Workers: Care Homes

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to publish new guidelines on the issuing of work permits for senior care workers; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Border and Immigration Agency published updated guidance regarding work permit applications for senior care workers on 13 August 2007.
	This guidance is available on the website:
	http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/news/announcements/senior_care_workers_guidance.html

Genetics: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 894W, on genetics: databases, what studies have been conducted by her Department on the impact of the national DNA database on black and minority ethnic communities.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office Forensic Science and Pathology Unit conducted a review in 2005-06. In April 2007 responsibility for the National DNA Database transferred to the National Policing Improvement Agency who are currently conducting an equality impact assessment on the database.

Genetics: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 894W, on genetics: databases, what consultations she has had with representatives of  (a) the Commission for Racial Equality and  (b) black and minority ethnic communities on the use of the national DNA database.

Jacqui Smith: The National Policing Improvement Agency has consulted with representatives from the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), including the CRE director of legal services. The ongoing equality impact assessment of the National DNA Database will include a programme of consultation with minority communities and in particular young black people.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she expects to launch Operation Pentameter 2; whether Devon and Cornwall Constabulary will be involved in the operation; who will be heading it; what its objective will be; what additional staff will be allocated to the operation; and what the budget will be for the operation.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 The Home Secretary will be launching Operation Pentameter 2 with ACPO on 3 October. It will be a multi agency operation, UK wide, and will involve all 55 police forces co-ordinated by the UK Human Trafficking Centre.
	The theme of the operation will be the same as last year and will aim to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation.
	The operation will be funded through existing resources. The UK Human Trafficking Centre receives a budget of 5 million per annum to support counter trafficking activity among local forces.

Immigrants: Criminal Records

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals being held in immigration detention centres have  (a) British and  (b) foreign criminal records; and for which categories of crimes.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The information requested could be obtained only by conducting police national computer checks and liaising with foreign governments for all individuals held in immigration detention centres which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Immigrants: Skilled Workers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the Commission for Racial Equality's letter to the Border and Immigration Agency stating that the changes to the rules on highly skilled migrants were discriminatory.

Liam Byrne: The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency responded to the letter she received from the Commission for Racial Equality on 6 July. I am placing a copy of her response in the Libraries of both Houses.

Independent Police Complaints Commission: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Tony McNulty: This is a matter for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Overseas Students

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to prevent fake educational institutions enabling people to enter the UK posing as students.

Liam Byrne: Since 1 January 2005, only overseas students who can show that they have a place to study or are already studying at an institution which appears on the Register of Education Providers (REP) have been granted entry clearances or extensions of stay as students. The REP is operated by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the application process requires institutions to prove that they operate out of registered premises etc. The REP has been very successful in combating bogus colleges, particularly those which were entirely fictitious. In 2004, some 1,200 were visited ahead of the REP being implemented and 25 per cent were found not to be genuine and were prevented from registering. A further 69 colleges have so far been removed from the Register through a combination of visits conducted by compliance officers in the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) as well as removals instigated by DIUS. Since July 2007, as the BIA has expanded its compliance resource in preparation for the introduction of the new points based system (PBS) for managing migration, officers have also begun to make more pro-active visits to colleges applying to get on the REP to prevent the registration of those found not to be bona fide.
	Under the PBS we have plans to go even further. Under Tier 4: (Students) of the PBS, all education institutions will need to be registered on a new register of sponsors in order to recruit international students. No private educational institution will be able to qualify for the sponsor register unless they can demonstrate that they have been independently inspected or accredited by one of a limited number of BIA-approved accreditation bodies. As announced by DIUS on 24 July 2007, accreditation will be used to provide an independent qualitative check on an institution to demonstrate it is a genuine education provider. Tier 4 is expected to replace the current system for students in the first quarter of 2009. Unaccredited educational institutions have some 16 months to obtain the necessary accreditation in order to continue bringing international students to the UK after that date and we are confident that less reputable education providers will not be able to pass this additional test.

Overseas Students

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what protection and recourse is available for foreign students arriving in the UK who have unwittingly paid money to fake educational institutions and may not work under the terms of their student visa.

Liam Byrne: The immigration rules set out provisions for international students to study at a bona fide private education institution which is included on the Register of Education and Training Providers. A definition of a bona fide private education institution is contained in the rules. Where it is found that an institution fails to meet this definition, it is prohibited from enrolling any more international students by being removed from the Register. Where the students at such institutions are unable to continue their studies, or where students are dissatisfied with the tuition at a college, the student rules permit them to move to another institution which is included on the Register of Education and Training Providers.
	Such students may also wish to report their circumstances to their local Trading Standards Office or seek legal advice about the loss of their fees. Where a student has more serious concerns that an institution is facilitating illegal migration, then they should also contact the police.
	The immigration rules permit those studying in the UK with a student visa to work part-time term-time and full-time in vacations.

Police Stations

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations were closed in London in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The management of the police estates in London are operational matters for the Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police.

Police: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of police officers in Cambridgeshire had the primary function of traffic policing in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The data are available are from 2002-03 to 2005-06 and are given in the table.
	
		
			  Police officers (FTE)( 1)  whose main function( 2)  is Traffic in Cambridgeshire from 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2006 
			   Traffic  Proportion of total officer strength 
			 2002-03 85 6.1 
			 2003-04 99 7.0 
			 2004-05 101 7.1 
			 2005-06 99 6.8 
			  Note s :  1. This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.  2. Staff with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function. The traffic function includes staff who are predominantly employed on motorcycles or in patrol vehicles for the policing of traffic and motorway related duties. The does not include officers employed in accident investigation, vehicle examination and radar duties.

Prisoners: Deportation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many foreign national prisoners have been deported in 2007;
	(2)  how many foreign national prisoners were deported in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 14 June. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.
	Statistics on the deportation of foreign nationals were last published in 2002. These data are available through the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website at:
	www.archive2.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm60/6053/6053.htm
	Published information on persons removed as a result of deportation action has not been available from 2003 onwards due to data quality issues. The Border and Immigration Agency is putting in place new systems to improve its data collection systems for the future in this area.

Prisoners: Deportation

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards the Prime Minister's target of deporting 4,000 prisoners of foreign origin by the end of the year; and what categories of crimes these prisoners were convicted of.

Liam Byrne: The chief executive of the Border and Immigration Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 14 June in which she provided an update on progress being made with foreign national prisoners. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House.

Prisons: Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison governors have visited prisons abroad to examine their drug treatment systems.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	Prison governors may occasionally visit overseas prisons to examine aspects of their penal system. No records are kept of prison governors specifically visiting prisons abroad in order to examine prison drug treatment systems.

Repatriation

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prisoners have been deported to  (a) Libya,  (b) Lebanon,  (c) Jordan and  (d) Algeria since the Repatriation Agreement with each country was signed;
	(2)  what monitoring of Libyan prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement;
	(3)  what monitoring of Lebanese prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement;
	(4)  what monitoring of Jordanian prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement;
	(5)  what monitoring of Algerian prisoners has taken place following their repatriation under the Repatriation Agreement.

Liam Byrne: The repatriation arrangements to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, referred in his statement to the House on 25 July are the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on deportation which were signed with Jordan, Libya, and Lebanon in 2005, and the separate arrangements we have agreed with Algeria. Copies of the MoUs, and of the exchange of letters between the previous Prime Minister and the President of Algeria, are in the Library.
	The terms of the MoUs signed with Jordan, Libya and Lebanon provide for the independent monitoring of assurances. Such monitoring has however not yet been needed as the Jordanian and Libyan individuals we wish to deport from the United Kingdom on national security grounds under the MoUs are still within the process of appealing against our decisions.
	Since July 2005, eight men have been deported to Algeria on grounds of national security. There are no formal arrangements for post-deportation monitoring. However, the eight individuals concerned were given details of how to contact the embassy in Algiers, and were asked if they wished to provide details of next of kin who could be contacted by the embassy. Two chose to take up this offer, a third merely wanted us to let his relatives know his arrival details.

Repatriation

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether the provisions of the UN Convention on Torture are included in the Repatriation Agreements being concluded by the UK with other countries;
	(2)  which countries the Government are in negotiations with about a Repatriation Agreement;
	(3)  what conditions are placed by the UK on a country before a repatriation agreement can be signed.

Liam Byrne: The agreements referred to are the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on deportation with assurances (DWA) agreed with Jordan, Libya and Lebanon in 2005, and the separate arrangements under which we are able to obtain assurances in respect of people we are seeking to deport to Algeria.
	These questions seek information about the numbers of prisoners deported under the arrangements and what monitoring has taken place.
	The ongoing appeals process means we have not yet deported anyone under the MoUs with Jordan and Libya, and we have not yet found it necessary to seek assurances under the MoU with Lebanon. Although monitoring arrangements are in place for all three countries, to date, no actual monitoring has occurred.
	Since July 2005, eight men have been deported to Algeria on grounds of national security. (A further individual who held dual Algerian and French nationality was deported to France on national security grounds). The arrangements with Algeria do not provide for formal monitoring following deportation. The deportees are given details of how they can contact the British embassy in Algiers, and are also asked if they wish to provide the details of next-of-kin who can serve as a contact point. Two of the eight opted to maintain contact with the embassy, a further individual merely asked for his relatives to be informed of his flight details.
	All the men deported to Algeria were detained and questioned following their return, as provided for under Algerian law. Six were subsequently released; two are still detained in custody and are now facing criminal charges.
	The terms of the draft answer have been cleared with LAB, OSCT and the FCO's Counter-Terrorism Policy Department.

Resettlement: Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response the Government has made to the representations of Amnesty International for the UK and US to provide resettlement programmes for Iraqis who have fled their homes since 2003.

Liam Byrne: The Government are aware that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Amnesty International have called for countries to resettle some Iraqi refugees in the region. The Border and Immigration Agency has started discussions with UNHCR regarding the feasibility of resettling some of the Iraqi refugees in the region to the UK. The UK's resettlement programme, the Gateway Protection Programme, currently resettles 500 refugees a year from across the world.

Security Industry Authority: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Security Industry Authority.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority.

Serious Organised Crime Agency: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers are employed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for the Director General of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Terrorism

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 841, on national security, how many of the 30 known terror plots, 200 groupings or networks and 2,000 individuals have police and security services begun monitoring  (a) between 11 September 2001 and 19 March 2003 and  (b) since 19th March 2003.

Tony McNulty: It has been the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on the operational activities of the security and intelligence agencies.

Visas: Iraq

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make special arrangements to issue visas to those Iraqi nationals who have directly assisted British forces in Basra to enter the United Kingdom should they wish to do so.

Liam Byrne: The Prime Minister commissioned a ministerial review on 8 August 2007 of assistance that might be offered to members of locally engaged staff in Iraq. We will announce the outcome of that review shortly.

Water Supply: Security

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the security arrangements for bowsers which are utilised in a national emergency.

Tony McNulty: The security of water bowsers during a national emergency is an operational matter for local chief officers of police, in consultation with water authorities.

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons it was decided to fingerprint visitors to Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre.

Jacqui Smith: Visitors to Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are not fingerprinted. A new security system is being used which takes an electronic scan of a visitor's thumbprint and recognises a number of points on the thumb to enable the centre operator to maintain a record of who is in the visits room at any time. This ensures that only visitors leave at the end of a visit. The technology does not enable a fingerprint to be reproduced and the information on the system is not passed to either the Border and Immigration Agency or the Police. The thumbprint is not retained.

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prospective employees at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre have been rejected in each of the last five years after being deemed unsuitable due to a background check.

Jacqui Smith: The percentages of prospective employees at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre who did not pass pre-employment checks in the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2002 2 
			 2003 2 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 3 
			 2006 6

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what background checks prospective employees at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre undergo.

Jacqui Smith: Individuals seeking employment at any immigration removal centre, including Yarl's Wood are required to undergo pre-employment checks on their immigration and financial background, counter-terrorist checks and criminal record checks to enhanced level are also carried out. Applicants must pass all of these checks before they can be accredited.

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances detainees at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are placed in handcuffs.

Jacqui Smith: Handcuffs can be applied to adult detainees following a risk assessment indicating that an individual presents a control or security risk, or in response to an immediate incident. The purpose of handcuffing is to reduce the risk of: absconding; harm to the public, other detainees or staff; damage to property; preventing removal from the United Kingdom; or attempting to prevent the removal of another detainee. Handcuffs are only used when necessary and not as a matter of routine.

Young Offenders: Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research studies the Government have  (a) undertaken,  (b) commissioned and  (c) reviewed on the effect of drugs education and prevention work with young offenders on reducing levels of (i) illicit drug use and (ii) drug-related harm; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Young offenders are one of the key risk groups identified as more at risk of developing substance misuse problems. Government Departments consider new reports and studies as part of their daily activity to ensure that current policies are based on up to date information and evidence. Recent and current research on the effect of drug education and prevention work on young offenders' drug use and drug related harm is as follows:
	The National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention, funded through the Department of Health, produced a review in 2006 of evidence on interventions for vulnerable groups including young offenders.
	The Young People's Substance Misuse Service (YPSMS) for under-18s in custody was launched in 2004. Its development and delivery has been evaluated since 2004, undertaken by Galahad on behalf of the Youth Justice Board (YJB). This evaluation is due to be published in September 2007.

JUSTICE

Absent Voting

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what response he has made to the recommendation of the Electoral Commission to require local authority returning officers to check 100 per cent. of the identifiers of postal votes in election counts.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are committed to the principle that 100 per cent. of returned postal votes should be checked. The Government will wish to move to 100 per cent. checking when it is appropriate and safe to do so, and in particular when there is deemed to be sufficient supplier capacity for checking all returned postal votes. We will work closely with the Electoral Commission and the Association of Electoral Administrators in order to establish when this position has been reached.

Animal Welfare: Prosecutions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions there were for the torture of animals in each year since 2001.

Bridget Prentice: There is no specific offence for torture of animals.
	However, information on the number of defendants prosecuted for animal cruelty in England and Wales for the years 2001 to 2005 can be viewed in the following table.
	Detailed information on court proceedings for 2006 will be published in the autumn of 2007.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates court for the offence of cruelty to animals, in England and Wales, for the years 2001 to 2005( 1,)( )( 2,)( )( 3,)( )( 4) 
			   Prosecuted 
			 2001 975 
			 2002 1,006 
			 2003 999 
			 2004 984 
			 2005 1,061 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces.  As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Statute is as follows: Protection of Animals Act 1911. (4) Source: Court proceedings databaseOffice for Criminal Justice Reform  Source: RDS Office for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Antisocial Behaviour: Milton Keynes

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) parenting orders,  (b) parenting contracts and  (c) antisocial behaviour orders were initiated in Milton Keynes in each year since their introduction.

David Hanson: Parenting orders were piloted between 30 September 1998 and 31 March 2000 but data showing the breakdown by area are not available. Parenting orders were commenced in England and Wales in June 2000. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has since April 2000 collected the number of parenting orders by youth offending team (YOT) area, as reported to it by youth offending teams including education-related orders where the YOT has been involved. The number of parenting orders relating to crime or antisocial behaviour from April 2000 until March 2007 and those related to non-attendance of children at school until March 2004 reported to the YJB by Milton Keynes YOT are shown in table A:
	
		
			  Table A: Parenting orders related to youth offending or antisocial  behaviour and non- attendance reported by Milton Keynes YOT 
			   Youth offending or antisocial behaviour  Non- attendance where YOT involved 
			 2000-01 0 0 
			 2001-02 1 1 
			 2002-03 0 0 
			 2003-04 0 0 
			 2004-05 2 see table B 
			 2005-06 0 see table B 
			 2006-07 0 see table B 
		
	
	Since September 2004, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has collected data on the number of parenting orders in England related to non-attendance of children at school and exclusion from school at local authority level. Between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 Milton Keynes did not report any applications to the courts for parenting orders in the case of exclusions.
	The number of parenting orders made following truancy prosecution between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 is shown in table B.
	
		
			  Table B: Parenting orders made following truancy prosecution between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 
			  School year  Number 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 2 
			 2006-07 0 
		
	
	Data on parenting contracts in cases of antisocial behaviour and criminal conduct is collected by the Youth Justice Board as reported by YOTs. Since recording began in April 2004 of the number of final warnings with an intervention or relevant court disposal supported by a parenting contract, Milton Keynes YOT has reported no parenting contracts in the period April 2004 to March 2007.
	Recording of the number of final warnings with an intervention or relevant court disposal supported by a voluntary parenting intervention, without a parenting contract, also began in April 2004. Milton Keynes YOT reported 31 such voluntary parenting interventions in the year April 2004 to March 2005, 41 in 2005-06 and 54 in 2006-07.
	DCSF also collects data on the number of parenting contracts agreed with parents following bad behaviour/ truancy in school. The number of parenting contracts agreed in the case of poor attendance (truancy) at school between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007 is shown in table C.
	
		
			  Table C: Parenting contracts for truancy 
			  School year  Number 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 19 
			 2006-07 9 
		
	
	The number of antisocial behaviour orders as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service where prohibitions have been imposed in the Milton Keynes borough council local authority area is shown in table D.
	
		
			  Table D: Antisocial behaviour orders in Milton Keynes 
			   Number 
			 1 April 1999 to May 2000 n/a 
			 1 June 2000 to 31December 2000 0 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 4 
			 2004 13 
			 2005 2 
			 Total 22 
			 n/a = Not available.  Notes: 1. Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: As reported to the Home Office by the Court Service.

Asylum: Birmingham

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which asylum seekers resident in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency have had cases heard by judges  (a) Illyas Khan and  (b) J, involved in the Roselane Driza case.

David Hanson: It would be inappropriate to identify individual asylum seekers who may fall into the categories requested as it would breach their right to privacy and compromise the anonymity of Judge J.

Bail

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's estimate is of the effect on the prison population of reversing the presumption in favour of bail in the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Maria Eagle: It is not possible to make a precise calculation for full implementation of the provisions for reversing the presumption in favour of bail in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 because of the limited data held centrally and because significant assumptions have to be made about the characteristics of the cases affected.
	We are pursuing a carefully phased implementation taking account of prison capacity, starting with the most serious offences.

Claims Management Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which claims handlers have been registered by the Claims Management Regulator.

David Hanson: As at 4 October 2007, 1,476 businesses have been authorised to provide a regulated claims management service in at least one of the regulated sectors which include personal injury, employment, financial services and products, criminal injuries compensation and industrial injuries disablement benefit. Names and addresses of authorised businesses are listed on the claims management website at www.claimsregulation.gov.uk under the authorised business search tab. This register is updated daily.

Claims Management Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance is provided by the Claims Management Regulator to providers of claims management services on levels of fees charged for the accessing of consumer files.

David Hanson: The Claims Management Regulator has not provided any specific guidance to authorised businesses on the level of fees charged for accessing consumer files. It is a mandatory condition of authorisation that authorised businesses comply with the Rules of Conduct. These specifically require a business to ensure all information given to a client is clear, transparent, fair and not misleading. If a claims business has a contractual relationship with a client then it must specify any charge the business makes.

Claims Management Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many meetings have taken place between the Claims Management Regulator and the Law Society since April.

David Hanson: Since April the Claims Management Regulator has met the Law Society once, the Solicitors Regulation Authority three times and the Legal Complaints Service once. The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority are also members of the Regulatory Consultative Group on Claims Management which has met three times since April. There have been numerous other types of communications with these organisations since April.

Claims Management Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what communications have taken place between the Claims Management Regulator and the Serious Fraud Office since April.

David Hanson: There have been no communications between the Claims Management Regulator and the Serious Fraud Office since April. As necessary the Regulator has communicated with other law enforcement agencies including various police forces and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Community Service Orders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many offenders with unpaid work orders have  (a) not completed their orders and  (b) been summoned back to court within the term of the order in each supervising court in England and Wales in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many offenders completed their unpaid work orders in each supervising court in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: Unpaid work requirements were introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which came into effect on 4 April 2005. They can be made under Community Orders or Suspended Sentence Orders, and are supervised by the National Probation Service. Information on the number of unpaid work requirements which  (a) were not completed and  (b) completed in each of the last two financial years, by individual probation area, can be found in the following tables. Given the recent introduction of these requirements, it follows that the number of terminations will increase significantly over the first few years. Information on those specifically summoned back to court is not held centrally
	This information has been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Non-completions of unpaid work requirements by year, probation area and reason 
			   2005-06 
			  Area  Revoked (further offence)  Revoked (on application)  Revoked (failure to comply)  Revoked (failure to comply on another req)  Terminated (other reasons)  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 13 17 63 3 6 102 
			 Bedfordshire 15 6 19 0 15 55 
			 Cambridgeshire 20 5 22 0 4 51 
			 Cheshire 11 12 26 7 9 65 
			 Cumbria 14 15 27 5 17 78 
			 Derbyshire 23 9 51 2 3 88 
			 Devon and Cornwall 25 16 93 5 12 151 
			 Dorset 3 0 10 1 1 15 
			 Durham 21 7 15 0 1 44 
			 Dyfed-Powys 19 14 22 3 1 59 
			 Essex 23 25 33 1 15 97 
			 Gloucestershire 5 8 9 0 3 25 
			 Greater Manchester 90 24 302 11 33 460 
			 Gwent 18 8 15 1 7 49 
			 Hampshire 42 37 140 6 12 237 
			 Hertfordshire 11 9 30 1 15 66 
			 Humberside 42 18 60 1 27 148 
			 Kent 21 24 74 3 11 133 
			 Lancashire 45 44 47 7 16 159 
			 Leicestershire 15 11 31 5 13 75 
			 Lincolnshire 10 15 27 0 4 56 
			 London 85 25 128 9 171 418 
			 Merseyside 7 18 71 0 56 152 
			 Norfolk 13 13 38 2 8 74 
			 North Wales 12 6 11 1 7 37 
			 North Yorkshire 34 15 54 7 15 125 
			 Northamptonshire 15 6 12 1 2 36 
			 Northumbria 37 36 40 8 11 132 
			 Nottinghamshire 34 20 119 7 13 193 
			 South Wales 42 26 65 6 8 147 
			 South Yorkshire 31 23 112 4 13 183 
			 Staffordshire 26 9 34 3 5 77 
			 Suffolk 17 9 41 0 12 79 
			 Surrey 13 11 43 3 5 75 
			 Sussex 18 8 42 2 4 74 
			 Teesside 16 18 38 1 7 80 
			 Thames Valley 20 6 15 0 22 63 
			 Warwickshire 4 5 26 3 5 43 
			 West Mercia 20 5 45 1 4 75 
			 West Midlands 74 11 64 2 24 175 
			 West Yorkshire 74 27 184 13 22 320 
			 Wiltshire 10 3 21 5 2 41 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07 
			  Area  Revoked (further offence)  Revoked (on application)  Revoked (failure to comply)  Revoked (failure to comply on another req)  Terminated (other reasons)  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 76 104 273 17 55 525 
			 Bedfordshire 66 45 98 1 3 213 
			 Cambridgeshire 62 41 81 3 13 200 
			 Cheshire 59 45 166 36 80 386 
			 Cumbria 57 112 129 29 65 392 
			 Derbyshire 101 23 314 14 16 468 
			 Devon and Cornwall 68 70 309 7 38 492 
			 Dorset 22 44 85 7 113 271 
			 Durham 66 47 72 5 14 204 
			 Dyfed-Powys 70 37 69 7 23 206 
			 Essex 118 119 136 9 46 428 
			 Gloucestershire 45 65 46 4 20 180 
			 Greater Manchester 325 224 999 29 98 1675 
			 Gwent 119 64 124 11 73 391 
			 Hampshire 125 140 447 14 72 798 
			 Hertfordshire 54 83 179 26 25 367 
			 Humberside 91 104 164 8 164 531 
			 Kent 122 123 309 6 18 578 
			 Lancashire 175 120 437 20 233 985 
			 Leicestershire 123 148 202 5 98 576 
			 Lincolnshire 81 70 106 3 37 297 
			 London 432 201 977 55 433 2098 
			 Merseyside 81 49 546 3 139 818 
			 Norfolk 63 62 193 1 12 331 
			 North Wales 59 55 54 7 35 210 
			 North Yorkshire 79 77 167 10 92 425 
			 Northamptonshire 50 33 85 11 15 194 
			 Northumbria 176 115 248 42 42 623 
			 Nottinghamshire 166 153 480 23 23 845 
			 South Wales 188 144 268 19 145 764 
			 South Yorkshire 133 115 423 18 86 775 
			 Staffordshire 72 59 211 25 20 387 
			 Suffolk 44 29 115 8 38 234 
			 Surrey 27 55 185 13 29 309 
			 Sussex 55 82 248 11 20 416 
			 Teesside 137 61 104 3 23 328 
			 Thames Valley 124 106 181 7 52 470 
			 Warwickshire 51 20 163 7 6 247 
			 West Mercia 64 31 185 4 12 296 
			 West Midlands 298 165 322 8 66 859 
			 West Yorkshire 240 128 692 50 90 1200 
			 Wiltshire 19 53 132 10 16 230

Courts: Greater London

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact of the reduction of maintenance funding of the London Courts Service for 2007-08.

Maria Eagle: Maintenance expenditure within London is planned in line with an agreed estate strategy which sets the priorities for maintaining buildings in line with business objectives whilst ensuring a safe and secure working environment. Annual maintenance budgets and programmes of work are agreed in line with this strategy and on the basis of identified business and building risks. Plans and programmes are reviewed quarterly in light of changing requirements and risks, with budgets and programmes amended accordingly. Total maintenance expenditure for 2006-07 (capital and revenue) was 19,145,895. Forecast expenditure (capital and revenue) for the financial year 2007-08 is currently 18,796,250, a reduction in overall expenditure of 349,645 over 2006-07. This reflects planned reductions in both the size of regional estate and efficiency savings achieved as a result.

Courts: Salisbury

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons construction work has not started on the new courthouse in Salisbury.

Maria Eagle: The contract was signed with the developer on 1 October 2007 for the new courthouse in Salisbury. The developer plans to start on site during the week beginning 8 October 2007. The new courthouse is due to come into service in the summer of 2009.

Courts: Video Equipment

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many large video screens are available at courts in England and Wales; and at which courts are they available.

Maria Eagle: There are 239 courtrooms equipped with large video screens in England and Wales. These cover 63 Crown court centres and 59 magistrates courts. The courtrooms equipped with large screens are listed as follows:
	Bristol Crown Court
	Luton Crown Court
	Teesside Crown Court
	Carlisle Crown Court
	Basildon Crown Court
	Central Criminal Court
	Inner London Crown Court
	Kingston Crown Court (London)
	Blackfriars Crown Court
	Southwark Crown Court
	Snaresbrook Crown Court
	Manchester Crown Square Crown Court
	Portsmouth Crown Court
	Southampton Crown Court
	Maidstone Crown Court
	Preston Combined Court Ringway
	Liverpool Crown Court
	Newcastle Crown Court
	Nottingham Crown Court
	Cardiff Crown Court
	Swansea St. Helens Crown Court
	Sheffield Crown Court
	Stoke Crown Court
	Reading Crown Court
	Birmingham Crown Court
	Wolverhampton Crown Court
	Bradford Crown Court
	Leeds Crown Court
	Bolton Crown Court
	Cambridge Crown Court
	Canterbury Crown Court
	Chester Crown Court
	Derby Crown Court
	Durham Crown Court
	Gloucester Crown Court
	Ipswich Crown Court
	Kingston-upon-Hull Crown Court
	Lewes Crown Court
	Northampton Crown Court
	Norwich Crown Court
	Peterborough Crown Court
	Plymouth Crown Court
	Stafford Crown Court
	Swindon Crown Court
	Truro Crown Court
	Winchester Crown Court
	Wood Green Crown Court
	Oxford Crown Court
	Croydon Crown Court
	Warrington Crown Court (satellite of Chester Crown Court)
	Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court
	Isleworth Crown Court
	Chelmsford Crown Court
	Harrow Crown Court
	Newport Crown Court
	Grimsby Crown Court
	Mold Crown Court
	Leicester Crown Court
	St. Albans Crown Court
	Coventry Crown Court
	Bournemouth Crown Court
	Woolwich Crown Court
	Caernarfon Crown Court (satellite of Mold Crown Court)
	Taunton Crown Court
	Guildford Crown Court
	Thames Magistrates Court
	Feltham Magistrates Court
	Acton Magistrates Court
	Barnet Magistrates Court
	Mansfield Magistrates Court
	Knowsley Magistrates Court
	Camberwell Green Magistrates Court
	Bexley Magistrates Court
	Solihull Magistrates Court
	West London Magistrates Court
	Havering Magistrates Court
	Coventry Magistrates Court
	Walsall Magistrates Court
	West Bromwich Magistrates Court
	Wolverhampton Magistrates Court
	Manchester Magistrates Court
	Oldham Magistrates Court
	Rochdale Magistrates Court
	Hull Magistrates Court
	Blackburn Magistrates Court
	Bath Magistrates Court
	Croydon Magistrates Court
	Waltham Forest Magistrates Court
	Enfield Magistrates Court
	Bridgwater Magistrates Court
	Halesowen Magistrates Court
	Rotherham Magistrates Court
	Southport Magistrates Court
	Balham Youth Court
	Wigan Magistrates Court
	Bolton Magistrates Court
	Stockport Magistrates Court
	Tameside Magistrates Court
	Trafford Magistrates Court
	Leyland Magistrates Court
	Lancaster Magistrates Court
	Preston Magistrates Courts
	Blackpool Magistrates Court
	Burnley Magistrates Court
	St. Helens Magistrates Court
	Liverpool Magistrates Court
	Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court
	Yate Magistrates Court
	Reedley Magistrates Court
	Weston Magistrates Court
	Yeovil Magistrates Court
	High Wycombe Magistrates Court
	Berwick Magistrates Court
	Alnwick Magistrates Court
	Doncaster Magistrates Court
	Barnsley Magistrates Court
	Sheffield Magistrates Court
	Gloucester Magistrates Court
	Wimbledon Magistrates Court
	Richmond (London) Magistrates Court

Criminal Cases Review Commission: Finance

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment has been made of the impact of reducing funding for the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2007-08.

David Hanson: The Criminal Cases Review Commission's budget for 2007-08 allows the Commission to spend up to 6,858,000, as compared with 6,771,000 in 2006-07, despite a reduction in the overall envelope. Departmental officials meet with the senior management team of the Commission on a monthly basis to monitor their budget and performance against targets. I understand that the Commission are currently forecasting an under-spend overall as some expenditure has been postponed, although this may change later in the year.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his assessment is of the financial implications of implementing sections 154 and 155 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

David Hanson: Implementation of sections 154 and 155 (magistrates sentencing powers) in conjunction with sections 181 and 182 (custody plus sentence) was deferred in July 2006. No assessment has been made of implementing the magistrates sentencing powers independently of the custody plus sentence.

Defamation: Internet

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many libel actions have been brought in respect of claims made exclusively on websites in each year since 1997; and how many of these were made  (a) by a person or company considered to be based in the UK and  (b) against a person or company considered to be based in the UK.

David Hanson: Information on the number of libel actions that have been brought in respect of claims made exclusively on websites in each year since 1997; and the number of these which were made  (a) by a person or company considered to be based in the UK and  (b) against a person or company considered to be based in the UK is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	There is no single database of High Court cases which could be consulted to provide the information requested; the only way that this information could be obtained would be to consult each case file.
	The county courts use the CaseMan IT system to record case details primarily for case management purposes. The system does not hold sufficient detailed data to enable cases involving libel to be specifically identified. Again, this information could only be obtained by consulting court case files.

Defamation: Internet

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many internet service providers have been subject to libel actions in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: Information on the number of internet service providers who have been subject to libel actions in each year since 1997 is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	There is no single database of High Court cases which could be consulted to provide the information requested; the only way that this information could be obtained would be to consult each case file.
	The county courts use the CaseMan IT system to record case details primarily for case management purposes. The system does not hold sufficient detailed data to enable cases involving libel to be specifically identified. Again, this information could only be obtained by consulting court case files.

Departments: Departmental Coordination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) ministerial committees and  (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by his Department to liaise with the Minister for Women.

Maria Eagle: We have not set up any formal committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants to liaise with the Minister for Women although we work closely with the Government Equalities Office on a range of issues.

Departments: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by his Department;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the Land Registry;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by HM Court Service.

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the Office of the Information Commissioner;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority;
	(3)  how many press officers are employed by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the Boundary Commission for England;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Public Guardianship Office;
	(3)  how many press officers are employed by the Parole Board for England and Wales.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the Legal Services Commission;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by Criminal Justice Information Technology;
	(3)  how many press officers are employed by the National Archives.

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the Boundary Commission for Wales;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the Law Commission.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			   Press officers 
			 Ministry of Justice 21 
			 Boundary Commission for England (1)0 
			 Boundary Commission for Wales (1)0 
			 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 2 
			 Criminal Justice Information Technology (2)0 
			 Her Majesty's Courts Service 2 
			 Her Majesty's Land Registry 2 
			 Law Commission (3)0 
			 Legal Services Commission 4 
			 National Archives 5 
			 Office for Criminal Justice Reform (2)0 
			 Office of the Information Commissioner (4)0 
			 Parole Board 1 
			 Public Guardianship Office (2)0 
			 Youth Justice Board 4 
			 (1) The Boundary Commission for England or Wales have no dedicated press officers. However, press enquiries are dealt with by the general secretariat staff (primarily the Secretary to the Commission).  (2) Media relations are handled centrally by the Ministry of Justice Press Office.  (3) The Law Commission has a two-person communications team. It deals with press enquiries, the Commission's publicity and marketing, the Commission's website, and the publication of the Commission's reports and consultation papers.  (4) The Office of the Information Commissioner has used the equivalent of 21 days of contracted press officer time. The information requested has been provided by the Information Commissioner's Office, an independent body created by statute with responsibility for handling complaints made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what legislative provisions introduced by his Department since 1997 have been repealed;
	(2)  what legislative provisions introduced by his Department since 1997 have not yet been brought into force.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was launched on 9 May 2007 and took on all responsibilities of the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and for the National Offender Management Service and Office for Criminal Justice Reform from the Home Office. The information requested across my Department's entire legislative responsibilities and for the last 10 years would necessitate considerable staff resource across the Department and so cannot be provided except at a disproportionate cost.

Departments: Publicity

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's projected spending is on advertising and promotional campaigns for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09, broken down by cost relating to (i) television, (ii) radio and (iii) print media.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007. It has no current plans for spending on advertising campaigns during 2007-08 so there are no costs relating to television, radio and print.
	Its planned expenditure on integrated promotional campaigns through external public relations companies from 9 May 2007-31 March 2008 comprises:
	25,000 to increase understanding of the work of courts and their role in the justice system.
	12,500 for a public awareness campaign about the legal status of cohabitation.
	12,500 to publicise the Family Mediation Helpline.
	55,000 for a public awareness campaign on human rights.
	40,000 for a public awareness campaign on community orders.
	It is likely that the Ministry will spend money relating to the Governance of Britain programme during 2007-08/2008-09, but no decisions on resources for this and for advertising and promotion on other issues have yet been made.
	The Office of the Public Guardian is mounting a campaign to increase public awareness of the Mental Capacity Act. The campaign will comprise media engagement using a public relations consultancy and will cost approximately 30,000.
	Plans for advertising and promotion by the Ministry of Justice for 2008-09 are not yet advanced enough to indicate spend.

Departments: Racial Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 141-2W, on Departments: racial harassment, how many of the 79 formal disciplinary investigations conducted in relation to the Prison Service concerned allegations made by  (a) prisoners and  (b) other members of staff; and how many people have been (i) disciplined and (ii) dismissed as a result of the 35 complaints that were upheld.

David Hanson: The public sector Prison Service does not hold the information requested centrally in a format that would enable a detailed response to be provided.
	From the information that is held on the central database, it is not clear if the individual making the allegation is a prisoner or a member of staff. It is also not possible to break the disciplinary outcome figures down any further as one investigation can involve a complaint being made against more than one person. In order to provide this information it would be necessary to recall and manually examine each individual report which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice following the implementation on 1 April 2007 of Section 145 of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004, what the total amount outstanding is of surcharge payments.

Maria Eagle: Pending the rollout of a new IT system, my Department introduced an interim system that captures the amount of victims surcharge receipts collected. Between April and August the Department accounted for 455,021 in receipts by this arrangement.
	My Department does not currently hold statistical information that shows the number of victim surcharge impositions outstanding. Existing IT legacy systems do not allow any kind of national overview around numbers of individuals with fines, victim surcharge or other impositions.

Driving: Licences

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence under section 146(1) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 since 1 January 2004.

David Hanson: Although this disposal is meant to be recorded as part of court proceedings statistics, investigation shows that the data requested is not sufficiently well recorded to be given in this reply.
	The Ministry of Justice has started a programme of work looking at the quality of existing data on court sentencing and how this might be improved.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of dependent drug users referred to a drug treatment and testing order or drug rehabilitation requirement successfully completed it in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: Completion rates for Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs) have risen from 28 per cent. in 2003 to 44 per cent. in 2006-07.

Elections: Young People

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to measure the effect of action taken to make democracy more accessible by  (a) lowering the age of candidacy and  (b) opening polling booths to accompanied minors in elections held in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland in 2007.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not carried out any specific monitoring of these new provisions. I am aware that a number of persons aged 18 to 20-years-old have stood as candidates, and some have been elected. Allowing young people and children to accompany voters in polling stations will give young people the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the electoral process which will hopefully make them more likely to participate in future elections when they reach voting age.

Electronic Tagging: Life Imprisonment

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the nature was of the offence referred to on page 11 of the report on Satellite Tracking of Offenders for which an offender subject to satellite monitoring received a sentence of life imprisonment; and what the offender's name was.

Maria Eagle: The offender received a sentence of life imprisonment for rape and false imprisonment. The offender cannot be identified as this would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of the victim and their family. Moreover, undertakings were given to all participating offenders involved in the satellite tracking pilots protecting their anonymity in the researching of the report.

Family Conciliation Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to require the parties in cases concerning the residence of children and contact arrangements with non-resident parents to attend a mediation assessment before commencing court proceedings.

David Hanson: Parties applying for public funding under the Community Legal Service are already required to attend a meeting with a mediator to consider mediation.
	The Government continue to encourage the greater use of family mediation but do not believe that it should be made compulsory or that all parties in disputes over child residence and contact should be required to attend a meeting to consider its use.
	The Government will make changes to court rules and application forms to facilitate referrals to family mediation where the court considers this would be beneficial.
	The Children and Adoption Act 2006 when fully implemented will enable the court to direct parties to attend a meeting to learn about mediation in cases where it considers this is appropriate.

Fines: Compensation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1453W, on fines: compensation, what views were expressed by the Magistrates' Association and Justices' Clerks' Society to his Department during the consultation.

Bridget Prentice: During the consultation the Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society were concerned about the operation of the scheme and its impact on judicial independence.
	My Department worked with the Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society to address these concerns via the Criminal Enforcement Policy Advisory Group.
	Following those discussions the Magistrates' Association and Justices' Clerks' Society issued guidance on the application of the Victims' Surcharge to magistrates through their members.
	An internal audit on the operation of the Victims' Surcharge process within the courts is currently being undertaken and my officials will continue to work with the Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society on this matter.

Fines: Compensation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1453W, on fines: compensation, what representations he has received on the victims' surcharge since inception; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Representations have been received by the Home Office, the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, and the new Ministry of Justice, since the surcharge was brought into force on 1 April 2007 on offenders whose sentence included a fine. The following information is the total received to date and updates the information given in the letter of 15 August 2007 by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Bridget Prentice) to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) and my written answer of 16 July,  Official Report, column 151W, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.
	Members of Parliament forwarded to the Government 72 letters and emails from members of the public about the surcharge. Forty-five of these were from people identifying themselves as magistrates. Of these, one magistrate sent letters to five different MPs, and two magistrates wrote jointly to four different MPs. The Government also received a petition signed by 48 magistrates from the Calderdale (North and West Yorkshire) Magistrates' Bench.
	The Government also received 13 letters directly from members of the public (eight of whom identified themselves as magistrates) and two letters from the Magistrates' Association.

Fixed Penalties

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2007,  Official Report, column 137W, on fixed penalties, how many penalty notices for disorder have not been processed where a victim may wish to seek compensation through the criminal courts.

David Hanson: The police do not collect information on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) which were not processed because the victim sought compensation through the criminal courts. The Office for Criminal Justice Reform collect data only on the number of PNDs actually issued.

Fixed Penalties: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many fixed penalty notices for disorder were issued in Cambridgeshire in each year since their introduction, broken down by category of offence; and what percentage of money was collected in  (a) each category and  (b) total in each year.

Bridget Prentice: Data on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued for all offences paid (and the percentage of money collected), contested in court, and unpaid PNDs registered as fines at court, in Cambridgeshire police force area are provided in the following tables. Data are provided for the years 2004 and 2005, equivalent data for 2006 will be available in autumn 2007.
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued and the percentage of PNDS paid in full, fine registered, with cash values in Cambridgeshire police force area, by offence type 2004( 1) 
			   PNDs issued  Resolved by police  Resolved by HM courts service  Other outcome( 3) 
			  Offence code  Number  Cash valu e ()  Paid in full  Cash value  ()  Percentage of cash value recovered  Fine registered  Cash value ()( 2)  Number  Cash value () 
			  Higher tier offences (value (80) 
			 Wasting police time 3 240.00 2 160.00 67 1 120.00 0 0.00 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 108 8,640.00 57 4,560.00 53 50 6,000.00 1 80.00 
			 Throwing fireworks 2 160.00 0 0.00 0 2 240.00 0 0.00 
			 Drunk and disorderly 45 3,600.00 26 2,080.00 58 17 2,040.00 2 160.00 
			 Criminal Damage (under 500) 9 720.00 7 560.00 78 2 240.00 0 0.0 
			 Theft (retail under 200) 6 480.00 5 400.00 83 1 120.00 0 0.00 
			   
			  Lower tier offences (value 40 January to October 2004; 50 November December 2004) 
			 Drunk and Disorderly 144 7,070.00 81 4,000.00 57 62 4,530.00 1 50.00 
			 Trespassing on a railway 1 50.00 0 0.00 0 1 75.00 0 0.00 
			 Drunk in a highway 34 1,540.00 26 1,190.00 77 8 525.00 0 0.00 
			 Depositing and leaving litter 7 333.00 2 90.00 27 5 360.00 0 0.00 
			   
			 Total all offences 359 22,830.00 206 13,040.00 57 149 14,250.00 4 290.00 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it Is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) Includes the additional 50 per cent. of the value of the original PND, when they are fine registered at the courts. (3) Includes PNDs contested at court, cancelled and PNDs which were not reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform as resolved at the time of data submission  Source: RDS - Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued and the percentage of PNDS paid in full, fine registered, with cash values in Cambridgeshire police force area, by offence type 2005( 1) 
			   PNDs issued  Resolved by police  Resolved by HM courts service  Other outcome( 3) 
			  Offence description  Number  Cash value ()  Paid in full  Cash value ()  Percentage of cash value recovered  Fine registered  Cash value ()( 2)  Number  Cash value () 
			  Higher tier offences (value (8 0 ) 
			 Wasting police time 6 480.00 4 320.00 67 2 160.00 0 0.00 
			 Misuse of public telecommunications system 1 80.00 0 0.00 0 0 0.00 1 80.00 
			 Causing harassment, alarm or distress 275 22,000.00 180 14,400.00 65 84 6,720.00 11 880.00 
			 Throwing fireworks 2 160.00 1 80.00 50 1 80.00 0 0.00 
			 Drunk and disorderly 357 28,560.00 218 17,440.00 61 125 10,000.00 14 1,120.00 
			 Sale of alcohol to under 18 11 880.00 11 880.00 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Delivery of alcohol to person under 18 2 160.00 2 160.00 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Criminal Damage (under 500) 107 8,560.00 72 5,760.00 67 31 2,480.00 4 320.00 
			 Theft (retail under 200) 148 11,840.00 85 6,800.00 57 59 4,720.00 4 320.00 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework 1 80.00 0 0.00 0 1 80.00 0 0.00 
			  
			  Lower tier offences (value 50) 
			 Drunk in a highway 90 4,500.00 54 2,700.00 60 33 1,650.00 3 150.00 
			 Consumption of alcohol In public place 41 2,050.00 10 500.00 24 30 1,500.00 1 50.00 
			 Depositing and leaving litter 4 200.00 2 100.00 50 1 50.00 1 50.00 
			 Consumption of alcohol by under 18 on licensed premises 1 50.00 1 50.00 100 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			   
			 Total all offences 1,046 79,600.00 640 49,190.00 62 367 27,440.00 39 2,970.00 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it Is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) Includes the additional 50 per cent. of the value of the original PND, when they are fine registered at the courts. (3) Includes PNDs contested at court, cancelled and PNDs which were not reported to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform as resolved at the time of data submission  Source: RDS - Office for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Foreigners: Prisoners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign nationals were imprisoned in each of the last five years in England and Wales.

Bridget Prentice: The figures requested are in the following table:
	
		
			  Immediate custodial sentenced receptions into prison establishments 2001-05 
			   British nationals  Foreign nationals  Unrecorded nationality  Total 
			 2001 84,217 6,026 280 90,523 
			 2002 86,114 7,018 483 93,615 
			 2003 84,251 7,482 512 92,245 
			 2004 84,579 8,355 392 93,326 
			 2005 80,418 9,612 384 90,414 
		
	
	The figures provided in this table are for the number of sentenced receptions into prison establishments in England and Wales in each of the years in question and not the total prison population held in each of the years. The word imprisoned is taken to mean the numbers placed in prison under sentence during the 12-month period in each year, not the total numbers held in prison (including prisoners on remand and non-criminal prisoners), which would be answered by prison population figures(1).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	(1 )The figures provided should not be interpreted or used to reflect totals for prison population or total prison capacity.

Foreigners: Prisoners

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign former prisoners were housed in young offender institutions on 20 July 2007.

David Hanson: Comprehensive data in the form necessary to answer the question is not available on the electronic case management system. The information would need to be gathered from the paper files held on each prisoner and this would involve disproportionate cost.

Foreigners: Prisoners

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was in 2006-07 of providing free telephone calls to foreign national prisoners.

David Hanson: Prisoners, whether UK citizens or foreign nationals, with close family living abroad receive a free five minute phone call once a month if they have not had a social visit in the preceding period. There is no centrally held information about the cost of free calls nor locally of the breakdown between UK citizens and foreign nationals. Therefore, it is not possible to provide this information. Each establishment pays for such calls from their local budget, and costs are dependent on the number of eligible prisoners as well as the country they wish to call.

House of Lords: Reform

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with cabinet colleagues on proposals for legislative reform of the House of Lords.

Jack Straw: I will reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

Human Trafficking

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many safe houses there are in the UK for victims of human trafficking; and how many trafficking victims these safe houses accommodated in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Government have funded the Poppy project to provide support to adult women trafficked for sexual exploitation since 2003. Poppy has 35 bed-spaces across London and an outreach service. The project accepts referrals from across the United Kingdom. Women who apply for asylum continue to be supported by the project but are accommodated through Asylum Support. Additionally, there are a number of independently funded voluntary organisations that are able to accommodate and support victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
	The following table details the number of women supported through the Poppy project in the last five years. Information on the number of women supported by the independently funded voluntary organisations is not held centrally.
	
		
			   Support and accommodation  Outreach support 
			 2007 (January to August) 43 57 
			 2006 40 9 
			 2005 34 1 
			 2004 25 8 
			 2003 25 12

Judicial Communications Office for England and Wales: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many press officers are employed by the Judicial Communications Office for England and Wales.

Bridget Prentice: The Judicial Communications Office for England and Wales has two press officer posts. The junior appointment is a job-share.

Legal Aid

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the rate of legal aid has been since 1997; how much has been spent on legal aid in each year since 1997; and how many hours of legal aid work have been provided in each such year.

Maria Eagle: The expenditure on legal aid in cash terms during each of the financial years since 1997-98 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			 1997-98 1,525 
			 1998-99 1,623 
			 1999-2000 l,551 
			 2000-01 1,664 
			 2001-02 l,716 
			 2002-03 1,909 
			 2003-04 2,077 
			 2004-05 2,038 
			 2005-06 2,028 
			 2006-07 l,980 
		
	
	Legal aid is paid at a wide range of different rates reflecting the variety of cases funded under different schemes within the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) and Community Legal Service (CLS). Details of the rates currently payable for the various categories of legal aid are available on the Legal Services Commission's website.
	It is not possible to state the number of hours of legal aid work carried out in each year since 1997, as this is not centrally recorded. By January 2008 the vast majority of legal aid work will be remunerated on a ' per case' basis rather than by the hour, reflecting the progressive extension of fixed and graduated fees over recent years.

Offenders: Deportation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2007,  Official Report, column 270W, what the Department's estimated timescales are for the completion of the procedures referred to with  (a) Jamaica,  (b) Nigeria and  (c) Pakistan.

Bridget Prentice: The United Kingdom has concluded prisoner transfer agreements with both Jamaica and Pakistan. The Agreement with Jamaica was signed in London on 26 June 2007; the Agreement with Pakistan was signed in Islamabad on 24 August 2007. Before these agreements come to force each country must complete their respective constitutional procedures.
	In the United Kingdom this means that the text of the agreements must be laid before Parliament for 21 consecutive sitting days. It is intended that the Agreements with Jamaica and with Pakistan will be laid before Parliament when it reassembles after the summer recess.
	Jamaica has not yet completed changes to its domestic legislation but UK officials in Kingston are following up progress with the Jamaican Ministry of National Security and the Attorney-General's Office.
	The Agreement with Pakistan has only recently been signed. We do not yet know what domestic procedures are necessary to enable the Pakistani Government to ratify it. The British High Commission will take this forward with the Pakistani Government.
	Negotiations with Nigeria are ongoing. It is not possible to say when they will be concluded.

Parc Prison

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if the Minister with responsibility for prisons will meet the hon. Member for Bridgend and a group of interested parties to discuss the case for a footpath to be built from the A4061 to Parc Prison.

David Hanson: I have arranged for my hon. Friend and interested parties to meet with prison representatives of HMP YOI Parc to discuss the case for a footpath to be built. A representative of HMP YOI Parc will contact my hon. Friend's constituency office to arrange this.

Parole

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost implications of the Court of Appeal ruling that prisoners should be compensated when they are detained beyond the date on which they are eligible for parole; what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners who may fall within the terms of this ruling, broken down by period of detention beyond eligibility for parole; what steps he is taking to ensure that HM Prison Service ends this practice; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Her Majesty's Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts 2006-2007 details parole performance for the fiscal year 2006-07. Of those prisoners awarded parole, only 3 per cent. were subject to late release due to administrative delays. This is lower than in previous years and the Government are committed to ensuring that no prisoner is detained in prison beyond their parole eligibility date due to administrative delays.

Personal Records: USA

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the Passenger Name Record system and the agreement with the US for the handing over of personal data; what restraints or limitations of use or storage of such data  (a) are binding under the agreement and  (b) are expected by the agreement but are not binding; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The European Union, on 23 July 2007, and the United States of America, on 26 July 2007, signed an agreement on the processing and transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data by air carriers to US authorities. The new agreement, which is binding, is in three parts:
	(i) an agreement signed by both parties;
	(ii) a letter which the US sent to the EU in which it sets out assurances about how the US handles the collection, use and storage of EU PNR data; and
	(iii) a letter from the EU to the US acknowledging receipt of the assurances and confirming that it considers the level of protection of EU PNR data in the US as adequate.
	The main features of the agreement and the accompanying letter are:
	The purposes for the transfers are unchanged and are for preventing and combating (1) terrorism and related crimes; (2) other serious crimes, including organised crime, that are transnational in nature; and (3) flights from warrants or custody for crimes described above. PNR may be used where necessary for the protection of the vital interests of the data subject or other persons, or in any criminal judicial proceedings, or as otherwise required by law.
	Data will be retained for seven years in an operational status and for a further eight years in a non-operational status. The new agreement imposes stringent conditions that it may be accessed only with the approval of a senior DHS official designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security and only in response to an identifiable case, threat or risk.
	Sensitive personal data will be filtered out and will not be used by the DHS, except in exceptional cases where life is at risk. The DHS will maintain a log of any access to sensitive data and will inform the European Commission normally within 48 hours.
	The Government believe that this agreement balances the need to prevent and combat crime with the need to provide data protection safeguards for UK passengers.
	A copy of the agreement and the exchange of letters was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 4 August 2007.

Prison Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average total certified normal accommodation was of the prison estate in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The following table shows the average in use certified normal accommodation (CNA) of the prison estate in England and Wales for each year since 1997.
	
		
			   In use CNA 
			 1997 56,411 
			 1998 61,439 
			 1999 62,266 
			 2000 63,245 
			 2001 63,780 
			 2002 64,158 
			 2003 66,022 
			 2004 67,678 
			 2005 69,090 
			 2006 70,658 
			 2007 (as at 31 July) 71,247

Prison Accommodation

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of spare capacity in the prison system; what plans he has to build new prisons; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Government will ensure that there are sufficient prison places for those serious and dangerous offenders who ought to be in prison. The National Offender Management Service continues to investigate options for providing further increases in capacity. A programme to deliver 8,000 new prison places by 2012 was announced in July 2006, to be provided both in new prisons and by expansion at existing prisons.
	A further 1,500 places were announced on 19 June 2007. Work started immediately on 500 of the extra places, the first of which will come into use in January 2008. The composition of the further 1,000 places will be decided in the light of Lord Carter's forthcoming report into the long-term future of the prison estate and the supply and demand of prison places.
	The National Offender Management Service is closely monitoring the prison population and spare capacity in the system.
	We are reviewing the basis by which the current spare capacity is calculated and will make a further statement shortly.

Prison Accommodation: Cardiff

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times facilities in Cardiff court buildings have been used to house prisoners overnight in each month in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Prisoners were held overnight in court cells in Cardiff on 11-12 June 2007. This is the only occasion on which prisoners were held overnight in court cells in Wales during 2007.

Prison Service: Pay

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions the Deputy Director General of HM Prison Service recommended a member of staff to receive required hours allowance in each of the years that he occupied the role of  (a) Deputy Director General and  (b) Director of Operations; what reasons were provided for receipt of the allowance in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Director of Operations recommended that one member of his staff be paid required hours allowance. This was to reflect the individual's role as a duty officer in support of the Incident Command Suite and was in line with arrangements for other duty officers. There have been no other recommendations made during his tenure as Director of Operations or Deputy Director General.

Prison Service: Public Appointments

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many promotion and selection boards the Deputy Director General of HM Prison Service sat in each of the years that he occupied the role of  (a) Deputy Director General and  (b) Director of Operations; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The current Deputy Director General sat on the following boards as Director of Operations:
	
		
			   Board 
			 11 April 2003 Eastern Area Manager post 
			 3 November 2003 Thames Valley, Hampshire and IoW Area Manager post 
			 14 November 2003 Head of Personnel Management Group 
			  Head of Juveniles Group 
			 30 June 2004 London Area Manager post 
			 9 September 2004 Head of Performance Delivery post (Operations Directorate) 
			 11 July 2005 West Midlands Area Manager post 
			 11 July 2005 South West Area Manager post 
			 12 July 2005 Casework Manager post (Operations Directorate) 
			 3 March 2006 Budget Manager post (Operations Directorate) 
			 2 August 2006 North East Area Manager post 
		
	
	On the following board commenced as Director of Operations and concluded as Deputy Director Genera (DDG):
	16 November 2006/6 December 2006Yorkshire Area Manager post
	On the following board as DDG:
	6 March 2007Head of Women and Young Peoples Group
	9 May 2007HR Director post

Prisoners Release: Housing

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of prisoners discharged at the end of their sentence  (a) went into temporary accommodation and  (b) were of no fixed abode in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Hanson: Data are currently collected on the percentage of prisoners who move on to settled accommodation on discharge from custody. Details of those in temporary or of no fixed abode are not collected. Between 1 April and 31 July 2007, 80.2 per cent. of discharged prisoners moved to settled accommodation.

Prisoners Release: Reoffenders

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of convicted criminals released through the early release scheme who go on to re-offend; what plans he has to review the operation of the early release scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The number of prisoners released under End of Custody Licence (ECL) conditions who have subsequently been recalled to prison for alleged re-offending in August is 30. This is based on those notifications to the National Offender Management Service received by the end of 21 September. The number of releases on ECL in August was 2,493.
	These figures were published on the Ministry of Justice website on 28 September 2007.
	ECL was introduced as a temporary measure and we will keep under review the length of time it will remain in use in the light of new prison capacity coming on stream and the review by Lord Carter. So far the data collected about ECL indicate that the scheme is working well.

Prisoners: Death

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 577-83W, how many of the deaths in prisons since 1997 took place in prisons that were classified as overcrowded; what assessment he has made of the effects of overcrowding on the number of deaths in prison; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The precise impact on prisoners of increased prison populations and their overcrowding, alongside other factors, is unclear. Cell-sharing can be a protective factor and overcrowding itself does not explain why there are self-inflicted deaths in prisons. Most significantly, a high proportion of prisoners arrive in prison with risk factors that we know increase the risk of them harming themselves, such as substance withdrawal, uncertainty and anxiety about their own cases, the impact of and adjustment to imprisonment, family concerns, a history of previous abuse or self-harm, and mental health issues.
	However, managing very high numbers of prisoners can hinder efforts to reduce prisoner suicide rates. For example, by causing an increase in transfers between prisons, some prisoners being located further from home and family support, a possible reduction in the time staff can spend with individual prisoners on care and risk assessment, and an increase in the length of time prisoners are locked in their cells, rather than engaged in regime activities, association and other purposeful activity.

Prisoners: Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners received regular methadone in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many prisoners received prescribed Bupranorhine in the last 12 months;
	(3)  how many prisoners received prescribed Natraxone in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: This information is not held centrally in the form requested.
	Since April 2007, the Department has collected information on regular opioid prescriptions. These will predominately be methadone treatments, but may also include Buprenorphine. Prisons reported 4,458 such treatments from April to July 2007.

Prisoners: Mental Health Services

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst prisoners aged 60 years and over;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of provision of health services in prisons for older prisoners;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the health of older prisoners compared with  (a) older people in general and  (b) younger prisoners.

David Hanson: The information requested is not held centrally.
	A thematic review by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, 'No problemsOld and quiet: Older prisoners in England and Wales' (2004), examined the health care services available to older prisoners. It found that 85 per cent. of older male prisoners had one or more major illnesses documented in their medical records, and 83 per cent. reported at least one chronic condition. The most common documented illnesses were mental health issues and cardiovascular, musculo-skeletal and respiratory conditions.
	A copy is available in the Library and on the Home Office website at:
	http://inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmiprisons/thematic-reports1/hmp-thematic-older-04.pdf
	The Department of Health will publish 'Pathways to Care for Older Offenders: A Toolkit for Good Practice' shortly. This good practice toolkit will help enable prison healthcare staff to develop services, backed by a formal, routine assessment process, that meet the health and social care needs of older offenders both during their stay in prison and following release back into the community. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Prisoners: Transport

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoner journeys in the south-west in relation to each prison were made by taxi or other private hire vehicle; and at what cost in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07;
	(2)  how much each prison in the south-west region spent on privately contracted transportation in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; and what proportion of this cost was represented by taxi or private hire journeys.

Maria Eagle: Accurate information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as it would require a search through a very large number of invoices, and interrogation of a number of accounting codes.

Prisons: Elderly

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements he makes for the provision of healthcare services in prisons to take account of the particular needs of older prisoners.

David Hanson: Since April 2006, commissioning responsibility for prison health services has been fully devolved to the national health service.
	Primary care trusts work with prisons to assess the health care needs of their population, whatever their age, and develop services to meet those needs. Local partnership boards ensure that these are of an equivalent quality and range to that which the general public receives from the NHS.
	Services for older prisoners should be made on the basis of the NHS National Service Framework for Older Peopleissued to all prisons under cover of a Prison Service Instruction in 2001. This requires staff to deliver comprehensive and well co-ordinated packages of care that meet the needs of older prisoners and ensure continuity of care for them on release.
	An older prisoners action group has recently been established as part of the Care Services Improvement Partnerships health and social care in criminal justice programme. This will work to address the specific health and social care service inequalities for older offenders, including establishing national access protocols to services based on a common assessment of need.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the impact of prison overcrowding on the number of  (a) prisoner suicides and self-inflicted injuries,  (b) prisoner-on-prisoner and prisoner-on-prison officer assaults and  (c) re-offending rates.

Bridget Prentice: The precise impact on prisoners of increased prison populations and their overcrowding, alongside other factors, is unclear. Cell-sharing can be a protective factor and overcrowding itself does not explain why there are self-inflicted deaths in prisons. Most significantly, a high proportion of prisoners arrive in prison with risk factors that we know increase the risk of them harming themselves, such as substance withdrawal, uncertainty and anxiety about their own cases, the impact of and adjustment to imprisonment, family concerns, a history of previous abuse or self-harm, and mental health issues.
	However, managing very high numbers of prisoners can hinder efforts to reduce prisoner suicide rates. For example, by causing an increase in transfers between prisons, some prisoners being located further from home and family support, a possible reduction in the time staff can spend with individual prisoners on care and risk assessment, and an increase in the length of time prisoners are locked in their cells, rather than engaged in regime activities, association and other purposeful activity.
	Similarly, there is no clear link between higher population levels and violence. For example, analysis of young offenders statistics, a prisoner group that can be associated with higher assault rates, has not been able to show any such link.
	In respect of re-offending rates, the National Offender Management Service has not established a correlation between overcrowding and re-offending. Prison Service monitoring of the delivery of offending behaviour programmes has shown that less than 1 per cent. of those who started offending behaviour programmes in 2006-07 failed to complete them because of transfer, possibly indicating any increased prisoner transfers due to population levels or other factors are not hindering completion of offending behaviour programmes.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of the self-inflicted deaths in prisons in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007 to date occurred inside prisons that were classified as overcrowded.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   2006 ( 1) 2007 
			 Total self-inflicted deaths(2) in custody 67 58 
			 Self-inflicted deaths that occurred in prisons where the number of prisoners held in one or more cells exceeded Certified Normal Accommodation 59 46 
			 (1 )up to and including 20 August only. (2 )Self-inflicted deaths include all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available (previously some 20 per cent. of these deaths have not received a suicide or open verdict at inquest).

Prisons: Visits

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison establishments the Deputy Director General of HM Prison Service visited in each of the last 12 months; on which dates; to which prisons; which of these visits were  (a) announced and  (b) unannounced; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Deputy Director General has visited the following establishments in the last 12 months. All the visits were announced.
	
		
			  Date  Prison 
			 12 September 2006 Askham Grange 
			 19 September 2006 Sudbury 
			 20 October 2006 Bedford 
			 23 November 2006 Foston Hall 
			 29 November 2006 Lancaster Farms 
			 30 November 2006 Lancaster Castle 
			 18 December 2006 Wormwood Scrubs 
			 4 January 2007 Shepton Mallet 
			 5 January 2007 Shrewsbury 
			 7 March 2007 Buckley hall 
			 8 March 2007 Stafford 
			 8 June 2007 Gartree 
			 22 June 2007 Wayland 
			 26 July 2007 Holme House 
			 1 August 2007 Kennet 
			 22 August 2007 Dorchester 
			 7 September 2007 Highpoint

Public Order Offences

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2007,  Official Report, column 267W, on public order offences, what data is available on the number of penalty notices for disorder issued in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007, broken down by (i) offence and (ii) police force area.

David Hanson: Information on the number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued in 2006, broken down as requested will be available in November, when the data are published.

Road Traffic Offences: Prisoners Release

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 800W, on road traffic offences: prisoners release, which of the releases for motoring offences between  (a) 29 June and 5 July and  (b) 6 July and 31 July, were for the offences of (i) causing death by dangerous driving under section 1, (ii) dangerous driving under section 2 and (iii) causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs under section 3a of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

David Hanson: Data on the number of End of Custody Licence releases for the three specific sections of the Road Traffic Act 1998 are not collated centrally because the recording of offence details on prison IT systems is not sufficiently detailed. Collecting this information reliably to answer the question at the detailed level requested would involve collecting and checking data manually and therefore incur disproportionate cost.

Robbery: Sentencing

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what percentage of convictions for robberies of personal property resulted in  (a) custodial and  (b) community sentences in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible to identify the number of convictions for personal robbery as court proceedings data do not differentiate between personal and commercial robberies.
	The following table shows the number of convictions for Robbery in England and Wales in 1997 and 2005, as well as the number and percentage of community sentences and custodial sentences.
	2006 data will be available in November 2007.
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty and sentenced for robbery with sentence breakdowns and percentages: England and Wales: 1997 and 2005( 1, 2) 
			  Of those sentenced  1997  2005 
			 Found guilty 5,589 7,083 
			 Sentenced 5,597 7,139 
			
			 Community sentence 1,307 2,539 
			 Percentage 23 36 
			
			 Immediate custody 4,008 4,407 
			 Percentage 72 62 
			 (1) Data provided on the principal offence basis (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Court proceedings databaseOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Sentencing

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2007,  Official Report, column 441W, on sentencing, how many of the 173 offenders referred to maintain their innocence.

Bridget Prentice: Information on prisoners who maintain their innocence is not held centrally by the Pre-Release Section (PRS) in the National Offender Management Service, nor is it recorded on the Prison Service Inmate Information System. The information could be collected only at disproportionate cost by examining the individual case records of the 173 prisoners concerned. As the information requested is not recorded routinely it is unlikely that an examination of individual case files either by PRS or staff at the various prisons concerned would produce reliable or accurate information.
	Denial of guilt itself is no bar to indeterminate sentence prisoners progressing through their sentences, or to ultimate release on licence. Prisoners may maintain their innocence for a wide variety of reasons and that stance may often change during sentence. Guidance on the management of life sentence prisoners who deny their guilt is contained in PSO 4700.

Sexual Offences: Children

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of sexual offences against children in each year from 1980-81 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Information on the number of people convicted of sexual offences against children for the years 1995 to 2005 can be viewed in the following table.
	Information for 1980 to 1994 is being gathered and I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy in the Libraries of the House once available.
	Court proceedings data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.
	
		
			  Number  of persons found guilty at all courts for sexual  offences against children in England and Wales for the  years 1995 to 2005( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Found guilty 
			 1995 2,300 
			 1996 2,599 
			 1997 2,660 
			 1998 2,557 
			 1999 2,507 
			 2000 2,286 
			 2001 2,163 
			 2002 2,284 
			 2003 2,154 
			 2004 2,399 
			 2005 2,198 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) 128 offences have been used In this table and include sections of the following statutes: Sexual Offences Act 2003, Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000, Sexual Offences Act 1956 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1967.  (4) Some offences have been omitted as the vast majority of data will be against adults, and a minority will be against children.   Source:  Court proceedings databaseOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice.

Stamp Duties

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what records the Land Registry plans to collate on the number of house sale transactions that will receive the zero rate of stamp duty on zero carbon homes.

Bridget Prentice: Her Majesty's Land Registry does not collate data relating to stamp duty land tax including number of new zero carbon homes that will qualify for a stamp duty land tax relief, because this data will be collated by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs who are responsible for administering stamp duty land tax.

Supreme Court

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the costs of  (a) setting up and  (b) operating a supreme court; and what estimate he has made of the cost of continuing the appellate function of the House of Lords.

Maria Eagle: As announced on 14 June 2007 the estimated running costs of the UK supreme court is 12.3 million per annum at 2010-11 prices. The annual running cost includes a rental figure of 2.1 million per annum, increasing at a rate of 2.5 per cent. per annum. The rental figure covers the cost of the renovation and will be paid to Kier Group over a 30-year period.
	There are additional set up costs of 5.9 million for the Ministry of Justice programme team over the five years of the implementation programme and 14.3 million for items such as Ministry of Justice professional adviser fees and the non-capital element of the fit-out costs including loose furniture, IT and library books.
	As previously announced the running costs of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords were estimated at 3.2 million per annum at 2004 prices. This figure excludes building and services costs as it is not possible to extract these specific sums from the overall running costs of the House of Lords.

Tribunal Services: Interpreters

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost was of interpreters for the Tribunals Service for the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: During 2006-07, 1.6 million was spent on interpreter services across the Tribunals Service.

Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the Youth Justice Board's Physical Control in Care Training Manual, December 2005.

Bridget Prentice: I will arrange to place a redacted copy of the manual in the Libraries of the House. The redaction is necessary in order to remove sensitive security information.

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) alcohol-related and  (b) drug-related deaths there were in London in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 5 September 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) alcohol-related and (b) drug-related deaths there were in London in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (154810)
	The attached table provides the number of deaths in each year in the London government office region with (a) an alcohol-related underlying cause, from 2001 to 2006, and (b) a drug-related poisoning underlying cause, from 2001 to 2005 (the latest year available in each case).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths with an alcohol-related( 1)  or drug-related poisoning( 2)  underlying cause, London Government office region( 3) , 2001 to 2006( 4) 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			   Alcohol-related  Drug-related 
			 2001 787 428 
			 2002 832 335 
			 2003 826 338 
			 2004 758 342 
			 2005 744 399 
			 2006 824  
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-10 codes, are shown in Box 1 as follows. (2) Figures on drag-related deaths relate to the number of deaths from poisoning with any drug or medicine (whether accidental or intentional) or certified as due to drug abuse or dependence. They do not include deaths which may be indirectly related to drug use, such as blood-borne viral infections or transport accidents. The causes of death categorised as drug-related were identified using the ICD-10 codes Fl 1-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14. (3) Based on boundaries as of 2007. (4) Figures are for deaths to residents of London GOR, registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Box 1: Al cohol-related causes of death,  International Classification of Diseases, Tenth  Revision (ICD-10) 
			  Cause of death  ICD-10 code(s) 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol F10 
			 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol G31.2 
			 Alcoholic polyneuropathy G62.1 
			 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy I42.6 
			 Alcoholic gastritis K29.2 
			 Alcoholic liver disease K70 
			 Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K73 
			 Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver (excluding Biliary cirrhosis) K74 (excluding K74.3-K74.5) 
			 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis K86.0 
			 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X45 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol X65 
			 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent Y15

Bank Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the value of deposits in dormant bank accounts in  (a) Scotland and  (b) the United Kingdom.

Kitty Ussher: The Government set out in their March consultation document that dormant accounts would include bank and building society accounts where there has been no customer-initiated activity for a period of at least 15 years. On this basis, an assessment by banks and building societies suggests that between 250 million and 350 million lies currently unclaimed in banks, and up to 150 million unclaimed in the building society sector. These figures are for the United Kingdom. There are no specific estimates for Scotland.
	The banks and building societies have committed to a comprehensive recruiting exercise in advance of the introduction of an unclaimed assets scheme in the UK. This will build on existing arrangements to help customers to track down their accounts.

Bank Services: Domicile

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK-domiciled people with undeclared bank accounts abroad.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC does not have an estimate of the number of UK-domiciled people with undeclared bank accounts abroad.

Cash Dispensing: Yeovil

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce new, free ATMs in Yeovil constituency as part of the Working Group initiative to improve access in low income communities; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: As announced by my predecessor on 19 June, excellent progress has been made towards the goal of providing over 600 new free ATMs across the 1,707 low income target areas identified by the ATM working group as lacking convenient access to free cash withdrawals. Yeovil constituency is not one of the target areas identified by the working group because no areas in Yeovil constituency were found to fall within the most deprived quartile of areas in the UK according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. However, Yeovil constituency currently has 61 free ATMs, according to LINK data.

Child Benefit

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was underpaid in child benefit in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Child benefit is paid for each week of entitlement at a fixed weekly rate. The amount of child benefit paid is solely based on the number of children for whom the claimant is responsible.
	All eligible claimants of child benefit receive this full weekly entitlement in respect of all eligible children.

Child Benefit: Overseas Residence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 365W, on child benefits: overseas residence, whether all such cases are handled by a single centralised processing unit.

Jane Kennedy: All child benefit claims are processed centrally.

Child Benefit: Overseas Residence

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 365W, on child benefit: overseas residence, for what reason his Department does not hold information on the amount of child benefit and child tax credit paid in respect of children living abroad.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC collects and publishes a great deal of information on tax credits and child benefit and this is available on its website. The data collected and published are kept under review to ensure that the most helpful information is made available wherever possible.

Child Trust Fund

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the Child Trust Fund in each year from 2007-08 to 2020-21 for which an estimate exists; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information is as follows:
	AME accrualsI refer the hon. Member to the reply he received from my hon. Friend Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 542W, and to the reply he received from my right hon. Friend Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 17 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1112W.
	Administration costsI refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 January 2006,  Official Report, column 2214W, to the hon. Member for Leeds, North-West (Greg Mulholland). Updated figures will be published later this year.

Clothing: China

Michael Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the value of garments manufactured in China that were imported into the UK from Bangladesh in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The value of garments that originated in China and were imported to the UK from Bangladesh in 2006 was 9,069,751.71.
	This figure is based on declarations made to HM Revenue and Customs.

Council Tax: Education

Alistair Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of Modules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Valuation Office Agency's Council Tax Toolkit (England) learning tools.

Jane Kennedy: These modules of the Council Tax Toolkit (England) have been placed in the Library.

Departments: Advertising

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of advertising commissioned by his Department in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's only advertising in the last 12 months has been for the purpose of staff recruitment. Posts are only advertised externally where suitable candidates are not expected to be available internally.
	The Treasury takes advice from its contracted advertising agency for the most suitable media for each job. The contract was awarded in April 2007 following a competitive tender via the Catalist Framework.
	The media used are regularly reviewed for their effectiveness in terms of the quality and quantity of applications generated.

Departments: Consultants

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultants' contracts were terminated early in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and at what cost in each year.

Angela Eagle: This information requested is not centrally held and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Contracts

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on the use of tendering processes as part of the awarding of commercial contracts.

Angela Eagle: The Government's policy is to achieve value for money (vfm) in all their purchasing decisions. EU Procurement Directives provide the legal framework for public procurement. They set out the procedures which must be followed before awarding a contract when its value exceeds set thresholds. The EU rules reflect and reinforce the value for money focus of the Government's procurement policy.
	Where a tender process is not subject to the Directives (e.g. below threshold), EU Treaty-based principles of non-discrimination, equal treatment, transparency, mutual recognition and proportionality apply and some degree of advertising, appropriate to the scale of the contract, is likely to be necessary to demonstrate transparency.

Departments: Debts

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of the financial remissions set out in the departmental annual report his Department made by  (a) recoverable debts caused by official error,  (b) recoverable debts not pursued on the grounds of value for money and  (c) irrecoverable debts in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Losses and special payments are subject to strict control procedures and notation arrangements as set out in Government Accounting. The Treasury complies with those arrangements and reports losses in its Resource Accounts as necessary. A more detailed breakdown than that shown in the Resource Accounts could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Copies of the Resource Accounts can be found at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/resourceaccounts/

Departments: Departmental Reorganisation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1066W, on Departments: Departmental reorganisation, what account his Department takes of the Information Commissioner's guidance that no internal review should take longer than 40 days; and how many requests for internal review have exceeded this deadline.

Angela Eagle: The Department strives to follow best practice guidance in regard to FOI handling including internal reviews. The Treasury has robust systems to ensure a thorough and independent assessment of the original decision.

Departments: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Bank of England.

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by National Savings and Investments.

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Royal Mint.

Angela Eagle: The information is as follows.
	Four press officers are employed by the Bank of England.
	No press officers are employed by the Royal Mint.
	Four press officers are employed by National Savings and Investments.

Departments: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by his Department.

Angela Eagle: The number of press officers employed within the Chancellors Department as at 1 July 2007 is as outlined as follows:
	
		
			   FTE 
			 HM Treasury 8 
			 Office of Government and Commerce 2 
			 DMO 0.66

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2007,  Official Report, column 440W, on Departments: Legislation, which parts of the 60 Acts have not been brought into force.

Angela Eagle: The information, in relation to Acts other than Finance Acts, is in the table. Since 16 July 2007 one further Act has received Royal Assent, but is not yet in force (the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007).
	In relation to the Finance Acts, this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Act  Provisions not yet in force 
			 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 Section 104 in relation to banking business transfer schemes 
			   
			 Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000 Section 11 
			  Sections 12 and 13 in relation to Wales 
			  Part of paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 (relating to provisions inserted in the Government of Wales Act 1998) 
			   
			 Tax Credits Act 2002 Sections 1(1) and 1(2) (otherwise than for the purposes of Part 3 in respect of tax credits) 
			  Sections 25(1), 25(2) (otherwise than for the purpose of making regulations) 
			  Sections 25(6), 25(7) (otherwise than for the purpose of making regulations) (repealed)

Departments: Lost Working Days

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual number of absent days per employee was in his Department and its executive agencies in each year since 1997; what percentage of person-days were lost through absenteeism; and what the estimated total cost to the Department and its agencies was in each year.

Angela Eagle: Statistics on sickness absence of civil servants in Departments and agencies are published annually in 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service; available at the following website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/conditions%5 Fof%5Fservice/publications/

Departments: Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of staff responsible for  (a) brand management and  (b) marketing at (i) HM Revenue and Customs, (ii) his Department, (iii) the Office for National Statistics, (iv) the Debt Management Office, (v) the Royal Mint, (vi) the Office for Government Commerce, (vii) the Government Actuary's Department and (viii) the Valuation Office Agency in 2006-07.

Angela Eagle: Available Paybill costs in the financial year of 2006-07 were as follows:
	
		
			   000 
			 HMRC  
			 Brand Management 390 
			 Brand Management 750 
			 ONS Brand Management and Marketing 400 
			   
			 Royal Mint  
			 Brand Management 77.7 
			 Brand Management 820.7 
		
	
	The Treasury does not have a brand management or marketing team. Maintaining the Treasury's corporate identity is one of the roles of the Communications team.
	Information relating to GAD, DMO, OGC and VOA is not readily available and could be provided at disproportionate cost only.

Departments: Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff are responsible for  (a) brand management and  (b) marketing at (i) HM Revenue and Customs, (ii) his Department, (iii) the Office for National Statistics, (iv) the Debt Management Office, (v) the Royal Mint, (vi) the Office for Government Commerce, (vii) the Government Actuary's Department and (viii) the Valuation Office Agency.

Angela Eagle: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by HMRC, HMT, ONS, DMO, Royal Mint, OGC, GAD and the VOA for  (a) brand management and  (b) marketing are:
	
		
			   Full-time equivalent staff 
			 HMRC 7 for Brand Management 
			  20.42 for Marketing 
			   
			 HM Treasury The Treasury does not have a brand management or marketing team. Maintaining the Treasury's corporate identity is one of the roles of the Communications team. 
			   
			 Office for National Statistics 6.5 
			   
			 Debt Management Office No figures provided 
			   
			 Royal Mint 1.25 for Brand Management 
			  25.18 for Marketing 
			   
			 Office for Government Commerce No figures provided 
			   
			 Government Actuary's Department 0.60 FTE for Brand Management 
			  0.80 FTE for Marketing 
			   
			 Valuation Office Agency 16 staff work in the Valuation Office Agency's Communications team covering all aspects of internal and external communications including maintenance of the Agency's comprehensive public website. Team members are multi-disciplined and none are dedicated either to brand management or marketing. 
			   
			 NSI No response required not included in the scope of this question.

Departments: Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) HM Revenue and Customs,  (b) his Department,  (c) the Office for National Statistics,  (d) the Debt Management Office,  (e) the Royal Mint,  (f) the Office for Government Commerce,  (g) the Government Actuary's Department and  (h) the Valuation Office Agency spent on (i) stationery, (ii) business cards and (iii) building signs in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The following information is available without incurring disproportionate cost. All figures are presented in thousands, including irrecoverable VAT.
	
		
			  Department/agency  000 
			  HM Revenue and Customs  
			 2006-07 13,907 
			 2005-06(1) 16,262 
			 2004-05 15,865 
			 2003-04 18,767 
			 2002-03 18,518 
			 2001-02 12,910 
			 2000-01(2) 12,003 
			   
			  HM Treasury  
			 2006-07 289 
			 2005-06 258 
			 2004-05 264 
			 2003-04 308 
			 2002-03 363 
			   
			  Office for National Statistics  
			 2006-07 2,410 
			 2005-06 1,870 
			 2004-05 1,850 
			 2003-04 1,624 
			 2002-03 1,635 
			 2001-02 1,329 
			 2000-01 1,633 
			 1999-2000 1,490 
			 1998-99 n/a 
			 1997-98 n/a 
			  Debt Management Office  
			 2006-07 16 
			 2005-06 17 
			 2004-05 23 
			 2003-04 17 
			 2002-03 23 
			   
			  Royal Mint  
			 2006-07 35 
			 2005-06 34 
			 2004-05 55 
			 2003-04 66 
			 2002-03 52 
			 2001-02 49 
			 2000-01 75 
			 1999-2000 81 
			 1998-99 62 
			 1997-98 77 
			   
			  Office of Government Commerce  
			 2006-07 82 
			 2005-06 83 
			 2004-05 101 
			 2003-04 103 
			 2002-03 115 
			 2001-02 173 
			 2000-01 191 
			   
			  Government Actuary's Department  
			 2006-07 42 
			 2005-06 32 
			 2004-05 26 
			 2003-04 26 
			   
			  Valuation Office Agency  
			 2006-07 422 
			 2005-06 474 
			 2004-05 696 
			 2003-04 626 
			 2002-03 573 
			 2001-02 596 
			 (1) Figures for the years up to 2005-06 are an aggregation of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise. (2) Figures from the former Inland Revenue are for 19 October 2000 to 31 March 2001 only.

Departments: Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining his Department and its agencies' corporate identity; and what the estimated cost of  (a) producing and  (b) complying with such guidelines is.

Angela Eagle: Estimates of the cost of complying with corporate identity guidelines are not held and could not meaningfully be performed without incurring disproportionate costs. The following information is available on the estimated costs of producing guidelines. Copies of the relevant guidelines have been laid in the Library of the House.
	 HM Treasury
	HM Treasury's guidelines on corporate identity were produced internally, at minimal cost.
	 HM Revenue and Customs
	The estimated cost of producing HM Revenue and Customs' style guide was 44,000.
	 Valuation Office Agency
	The Valuation Office Agency's guidelines on corporate identity were produced internally, at minimal cost.
	 Royal Mint
	The Royal Mint is introducing a new corporate identity and new guidelines for staff are expected to be available later this year. The estimated cost of producing the guidelines is 40,000.
	 Office for National Statistics
	The Office for National Statistics has a set of guidelines for its corporate identity, produced in 1999-2000. The cost of producing them is not readily available and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	 National Savings and Investments
	The latest version of NS and I's corporate identity guidelines were produced in 2004 at an estimated cost of approximately 25,000.
	 Office of Government Commerce
	The OGC design and web guidelines were produced in 2004 at a cost of 12,225.
	 OGCbuy ing.solutions
	The cost of producing OGCbuying.solutions' product brand guidelines in 2004 was 9,000. Due to a change in accounting system, the cost of producing the corporate guidelines in February 2003 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Debt Management Office does not produce corporate identity guidelines.

Departments: Mass Media

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's evaluations of media coverage of departmental activities since May 2005.

Angela Eagle: No such evaluations have been undertaken.

Departments: Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) value and  (b) number was of bonus payments made to staff at (i) HM Revenue and Customs, (ii) his Department, (iii) the Office for National Statistics, (iv) the Debt Management Office, (v) the Royal Mint, (vi) the Office for Government Commerce, (vii) the Government Actuary's Department and (viii) the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The overall figures for,  (a) the total value of bonuses paid to staff and  (b) the total number of bonus payments made to staff for the departments/agencies requested, are set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  (1) Sum of bonus payments 
			million 
			 2006-07 21,519,239 
			 2006-06 12,711,896 
			 2004-05 15,043,525 
			 2003-04 2,819,801 
			 2002-03 1,124,639 
		
	
	
		
			  (2) Number of payments 
			   Number of bonuses paid 
			 2006-07 42,719 
			 2006-06 37,170 
			 2004-05 65,075 
			 2003-04 5,110 
			 2002-03 867

Departments: Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much  (a) HM Revenue and Customs,  (b) his Department,  (c) the Office for National Statistics,  (d) the Debt Management Office,  (e) the Royal Mint,  (f) the Office for Government Commerce,  (g) the Government Actuary's Department and  (h) the Valuation Office Agency spent on (i) sponsoring newspaper or publication supplements and (ii) funding advertorials in newspapers and other publications in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: In 2006-07, HM Revenue and Customs spent 5,488 on advertorials. None of the other bodies had any spending on sponsoring supplements or funding advertorials.

Departments: Resignations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2007,  Official Report, column 1642W, on Departments: Resignations, what the  (a) job and  (b) team title was of the civil servants referred to.

Angela Eagle: The six resignations in May 2007 were from staff in the following directorates:
	
		
			  Directorate  Number of resignations 
			 International and Finance 1 
			 Ministerial and Corporate Services 1 
			 Public Services and Growth 4

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on staff awaydays in the last 12 months.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 20 most expensive training courses provided to Ministers and civil servants in his Department were in 2006; and what the cost was of each per participant.

Angela Eagle: This information is not held centrally and would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

Departments: Training

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what training courses were attended by staff from  (a) HM Revenue and Customs and  (b) his Department in each of the last three years; how many staff attended each course; and what the cost was of each course to his Department;
	(2)  how many days' training on average were provided to each member of staff at  (a) HM Revenue and Customs,  (b) his Department,  (c) the Office for National Statistics,  (d) the Debt Management Office,  (e) the Royal Mint,  (f) the Office for Government Commerce,  (g) the Government Actuary's Department and  (h) the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information is not held centrally and would be available only at a disproportionate cost.

Departments: Training

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on training awaydays for staff of his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Most Departments do not record the cost of awaydays separately from other training and development costs. The following information is available without incurring disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  000 
			  Department/agency  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 National Savings and Investments 33 58 35 
			 Office of National Statistics 25 22 23 
		
	
	The Treasury only started to record awayday costs separately in 2005-06, when initial data collection indicated spend of 54,000 on awaydays. Due to changes to the accounting system more accurately to capture spend on awaydays, including associated training, recorded spend in 2006-07 was 192,000. This figure is therefore not directly comparable to the previous year.

Departments: Visits Abroad

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of visits abroad by staff in his Department and its agencies in 2006-07.

Angela Eagle: For details of spending on overseas visits in 2006-07 by staff and Ministers of HM Treasury I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Financial Secretary to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1186W. Information on spending on overseas visits is not separately identified in the accounting systems of National Savings and Investments or the Valuation Office Agency and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of spending by the other Departments and agencies is as follows:
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Department/agency  000 
			 Debt Management Office 17 
			 Office of Government Commerce 75 
			 OGCbuying.solutions 4 
			 Royal Mint 316 
			 Office for National Statistics 418 
			 Government Actuary's Department 71 
			 HM Revenue and Customs 1,949 
		
	
	Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of 500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Departments: Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on managing his Department and its agencies' corporate identities in each year since 1997-98.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today to Question 153923, on the cost of brand management. In addition to those costs, the following information is available without incurring disproportionate cost:
	the Office of Government Commerce spent 15,000 in 2004-05 and 19,000 in 2006-07 on re-branding;
	the Office for National Statistics spent 122,000 in 2003-04 and 53,000 in 2004-05
	the Government Actuary's Department spent 21,000 in 2001-02 and 38,000 in 2006-07 on design of new logos and changes to stationery and signage following changes to its corporate identity;
	the Royal Mint spent 79,000 in 2006-07 in respect of a one off exercise to introduce a new corporate identity, and
	National Savings and Investments have spent approximately 58,000 in each year since 2004.
	For HMRC spending, I refer to the answer given on 22 February 2007,  Official Report , Column 836W.

Disabled: Employment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of disabled people were in work in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 September 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the number and proportion of disabled people who were in work in each year since 1997. (154673)
	The attached table shows the number and proportion of disabled people of working age who are in employment for the three months ending June each year from 1999 to 2007. The disability question was first asked in 1999. Comparable estimates are not available for 2000. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Disabled( 1)  people of working age( 2)  in employment: United Kingdom: not seasonally adjusted 
			  In employment 
			  Three months ending June each year  Level ( T housand)  Rate ( P ercentage) 
			 1999 3,022 46 
			 2001 3,139 47 
			 2002 3,294 48 
			 2003 3,362 49 
			 2004 3,485 50 
			 2005 3,477 50 
			 2006 3,537 50 
			 2007 3,456 50 
			 (1 )Includes those who have a long term disability which substantially limits their day-to-day activities and those who have a long term disability which affects the kind or amount of work they might do. (2) Includes men aged 16 to 64 and women age 16 to 59. (3) Disabled people in employment as a percentage of all disabled.  Note:  Comparable data are not available for 2000.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Domestic Rates: Northern Ireland

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) gross and  (b) net revenue from domestic rates in Northern Ireland was in each year since 1997-98; and what the estimated figures are in each case for 2007-08.

Angela Eagle: I understand that the information requested is obtainable from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, an agency within the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel.

Domestic Rates: Northern Ireland

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Sir David Varney's review of taxation policy and economic growth in Northern Ireland will review the new system of domestic rates and the policy for domestic rate revaluations.

Jane Kennedy: The published terms of reference for Sir David's review were
	To report on how current and future tax policy, including, the tax changes in the Budget 2007, can support the sustainable growth of businesses and long-term investment in Northern Ireland.

Domicile: Taxation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of its amnesty for offshore account holders based in the UK on the number of non-domicile tax claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC has no evidence to suggest that the Offshore Disclosure Arrangements have affected the number of non-domicile tax claimants. The arrangements, which enable offshore account holders who registered by 22 June deadline to disclose any liability not previously included in their tax returns, are not an 'amnesty' because full tax, interest and penalties are all payable.

Environmental Trusts

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to facilitate the release of monies deposited in Environmental Trust accounts originally earmarked under Entrust's categories C and CC for education and research;
	(2)  what total amount derived from landfill tax revenues is held in the largest 12 environmental trust accounts;
	(3)  what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) is taking to make the bank accounts of environmental trusts which receive landfill tax monies more accountable;
	(4)  how much remains unspent in Environmental Trust bank accounts unable to be released due to the withdrawal of the education and research C and CC categories.

Angela Eagle: Any contributions made before 1 April 2003 for spending on sustainable waste management (object C and CC) projects that had a written agreement in place committing those funds to a specific project prior to 1 April 2007 can still be spent on that project. If there was not a written agreement in place by 1 April 2007, the funds should be released for spending on other qualifying objects.
	This policy has been clearly communicated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Entrust to site operators and environmental bodies respectively.
	Information provided by environmental bodies on their most recently submitted returns shows that the largest 12 environmental bodies held a total of approximately 97 million in their bank accounts at the end of the period in relation to contributions made under the Landfill Communities Fund. Environmental bodies must report to Entrust the amount of money held in their bank accounts relating to contributions made to them under the Landfill Communities Fund. Entrust verifies this information, according to risk, as part of its audit function. Entrust also provides quarterly reports to HMRC of contributions made and spent. HMRC keep a keen interest in the relationship between money contributed and spent.

Exchequer Secretary

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total estimated annual cost is of  (a) expenses,  (b) salary,  (c) office space,  (d) administrative support and  (e) special advisers for the new Exchequer Secretary.

Angela Eagle: I draw the ministerial salary of a Parliamentary Under-Secretary. I have five members of staff in my private office. I have no special advisers. An estimate of the annual costs of my office space, administrative support and other expenses could be made only at disproportionate cost.

Financial Services Authority: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Financial Services Authority.

Kitty Ussher: I understand that the Financial Services Authority has 10 press officers in total, including the head of department and two managers.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Information Officers

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Kitty Ussher: I understand that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) employed two full-time people who acted as press officers as at 1 April 2007.

Fiscal Liaison Officers

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fiscal liaison officers there were in each year since 2000, broken down by the location in which they were based; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC currently employs a network of Fiscal Crime Liaison Officers, based overseas, with jurisdictional responsibility for some 48 countries. However, I cannot give details of the locations of HMRC Fiscal Crime Liaison Officers, as to do so could jeopardise current operations and potentially put the officers and their families at risk.

Fraud

Paul Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation he has made of the abuse of accommodation address agencies by perpetrators of fraud relating to  (a) taxes,  (b) customs and excise and  (c) other criminal activity relating to the responsibilities of his Department.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC undertakes research to establish whether accommodation addresses are exploited by fraudsters that covers various areas of the Department's activities. However, providing a full analysis would require reference to current criminal casework and intelligence, which is not in the public interest.

Grandparents: Parental Responsibility

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution to the economy of grandparents who undertake child care roles.

Jane Kennedy: The Government have not made an assessment of the contribution to the economy of grandparents who undertake child care roles.

HM Revenue and Customs: Contracts

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the review of external contracts at HM Revenue and Customs will report.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs is currently reviewing the two main strategic IT and Accommodation contracts, the ASPIRE and STEPS Contracts. The ASPIRE Review will be completed in March 2008. The STEPS Review will report internally in autumn 2007. HM Revenue and customs are not currently reviewing any other external contracts.

HM Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why HM Revenue and Customs has not replied to the letter of 6 June from the hon. Member for Aylesbury on the case of Mr. P. J. E. of Aylesbury concerning tax credit claims for his disabled son and daughter-in-law; and when HM Revenue and Customs expects to reply.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The hon. Member's constituent's tax credit award is affected by the administrative problem with certain claims-as detailed in my written statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 62-63WS.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is in the process of writing to those claimants whose awards are affected. An HMRC official at the tax credit office telephoned the hon. Member's parliamentary office on 4 September 2007 with an update and an interim reply was issued on 14 September 2007.

HM Revenue and Customs: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: The HM Revenue and Customs press office currently employs:
	 Head of Media
	10 press officers serving the national media;
	5 press officers engaged on communications strategy and planning; and
	11 press officers throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland serving the regional media.

HM Revenue and Customs: Internet

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people downloaded HM Revenue and Customs podcasts in each month since their inception.

Jane Kennedy: The monthly downloads since April 2007 are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 April 2,414 
			 May 1,370 
			 June 919 
			 July 1,073

HM Revenue and Customs: Internet

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of producing HM Revenue and Customs podcasts in each month since their inception.

Jane Kennedy: The total production cost of the two HMRC podcasts launched in April 2007 was 5,300 plus 927.50 VAT.

HM Revenue and Customs: Internet

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to measure the effectiveness of HM Revenue and Customs podcasts.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC carefully assesses the effectiveness of its podcasts by monitoring the number of downloads and customers who have registered for the subscription feed.

HM Revenue and Customs: Job Satisfaction

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of levels of staff satisfaction at HM Revenue and Customs in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what processes he has in place to measure staff satisfaction at HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC takes staff satisfaction very seriously. To monitor this it conducts a staff survey twice a year which questions a sample of its staff.
	The results of the November 2006 staff survey is published on the HMRC internet at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/
	The June 2007 staff survey results are currently being finalised.

HM Revenue and Customs: Operating Costs

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total running costs were of each of the offices of HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs cannot supply the information requested as its provision would be at disproportionate cost.

HM Revenue and Customs: Productivity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what processes he has in place to measure staff productivity at HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC has a range of performance measures at individual, team and departmental levels which provide staff productivity information.

Housing: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the presence of double or treble glazing in a domestic dwelling may affect its capital valuation for valuation purposes by the Valuation Office Agency.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister for Local Government to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 504W, which sets out the position in respect of valuations carried out by the Valuation Office Agency for council tax purposes. For other capital valuations, the effect will depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case.

Housing: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many neighbourhood geo-codes recorded by the Valuation Office Agency to assist with domestic valuation purposes there are in  (a) England and  (b) Wales.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency (VGA) does not use the term neighbourhood geo-code. However, when developing the Automated Valuation Model (AVM) for the postponed Council Tax Revaluation in England, the VOA divided the country into approximately 10,000 localities. The precise number cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost. AVM functionality was not used in the Revaluation in Wales.

Inland Revenue: Reviews

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department commissioned the review and report undertaken by Messrs Attwood (International Division) and Bishop (Large Business Office) of Inland Revenue in August 1999.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 381W.

Lone Parents

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2007,  Official Report, column 2163W, on lone parents, how many lone parents there were in each local authority at the 1981 Census, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, broken down by five year age cohort;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2163W, on lone parents, how many lone parents there were in each local authority, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, in each year for which figures are available, broken down by five year age cohorts.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 8 October 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking:
	(a) how many lone parents there were in each local authority, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, in each year for which figures are available, broken down by five year age cohorts. (156270)
	(b) how many lone parents there were in each local authority at the 1981 Census, expressed as a proportion of the working age population, broken down by five year age cohort. (156252)
	I have been asked to reply in her absence.
	Figures are provided for the 1981, 1991 and 2001 decennial censuses. As no published tables exist that provide the requested figures, the tables have been specially run and deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Manufacturing Industries: Manpower

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 September, Official Report, column 2163W, on Manufacturing Industries: Manpower, how many people were employed in the manufacturing industries, as a proportion of the working age population, in each local authority in each year for which figures are available, broken down by five year age cohorts.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 8 October 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the proportion of the working-age population employed in manufacturing industries in each local authority area. I am replying in her absence, (156269)
	Tables giving the information requested have been placed in the House of Commons Library. The figures in the tables are estimates from the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey, for the twelve months ending in March of each year from 1996 to 2007.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

Members: Correspondence

Greg Pope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Paymaster General to reply to the letter dated 28 June 2007 from the hon. Member for Hyndburn on Ms M. Hartley-McGough.

Jane Kennedy: The chairman of HMRC replied to the hon. Member on 24 July 2007.

Office of Government Commerce: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Office of Government Commerce.

Angela Eagle: OGC currently has two press officer roles, providing media relations support for OGC itself and for OGC buying.solutions.

Office for National Statistics: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Office of National Statistics.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 5 September 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many press officers are employed by National Statistics. I am replying m her absence. (154129)
	As at 30 July 2007, the Office for National Statistics employed 7 press officers.

Older Workers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged  (a) 50 to 55,  (b) 55 to 60,  (c) 60 to 65,  (d) 65 to 70 and  (e) over 70 years were in work in each year since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 September 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the number of people aged (a) 50 to 55, (b) 55 to 60, (c) 60 to 65, (d) 65 to 70 and (d) over 70 years were in work in each year since 1997. (154674)
	The attached table gives the number of people aged (a) 50 to 54, (b) 55 to 59, (c) 60 to 64, (d) 65 to 69 and (d) over 70 years in employment for the three months ending June each year from 1997 to 2007. Comparable estimates are not available for 1998 and 2000. These estimates are not seasonally adjusted.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  People in employment by age bandsUnited Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			   Age 
			  Three months ending June each year  All 16+ employed( 1)  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69  70+ 
			 1997 26,356 2,751 1,785 1,023 275 163 
			
			 1999 26,876 2,995 1,946 1,017 304 158 
			
			 2001 27,438 3,093 2,156 1,076 283 151 
			 2002 27,617 2,986 2,358 1,086 314 164 
			 2003 27,863 2,939 2,552 1,180 347 170 
			 2004 28,024 2,902 2,603 1,243 366 183 
			 2005 28,193 2,904 2,667 1,287 389 191 
			 2006 28,339 2,934 2,688 1,384 425 198 
			 2007 28,434 2,981 2,596 1,539 412 222 
			 (1) Includes other age bands.  Note: Comparable data are not available for 1998 and 2000.  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey

Personal Savings

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the trend in the UK household savings ratio over the period 1997 to 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: HM Treasury continually monitors the level of household savings, and the implications for the wider economy are examined as part of the pre-Budget report and Budget forecasting process.
	Since 1997 the Government have: introduced the Individual Saving Account (ISA) so that everyone has access to a tax-advantaged savings scheme; introduced the Child Trust Fund (CTF) so that in the future all children will enter adulthood with a financial asset regardless of family background, and piloted the Saving Gateway to explore ways in which matched funding can promote saving in lower income households.

PFI

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) aggregate gross value of the total expected cash payments under all current and approved future private finance initiative contracts and  (b) estimated current capital value of all existing and future private finance initiative contracts is.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) Projections of future cash payments under the private finance initiative were provided in Budget 2007 at table C19. This can be found on the HM Treasury website at the following address:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/3/2/bud07_c19.pdf
	 (b) The estimated capital value of signed PFI contracts can be found on the HM Treasury public website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_partnerships/ppp_PFI_stats.cfm
	The latest estimate of the capital value of unsigned PFI contracts at the preferred bidder stage can be found in table C18 of Budget 2007:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/C/8/bud07_chapterc_288.pdf

Plastics: Taxation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government policy is on a  (a) plastic bag and  (b) chewing gum tax.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor continues to keep all taxes under review. The Government currently have no plans for a plastic bag tax or a chewing gum tax.

Public Participation: Elderly

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which groups are being consulted as part of his Department's review of the needs of over 85 year-olds.

Andy Burnham: As part of the long-term vision of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government have consulted widely the implications of an ageing population on public services such as long-term care for the elderly. In addition to those listed, this work has benefited from the input of other groups with whom the Department of Health, the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty's Treasury have engaged on related issues.
	Age Concern
	Alzheimer's Society
	Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations(ACEVO)
	Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS)
	Better Government for Older People (BGOP)
	BUPA Care Home Services
	Carer's UK
	Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA)
	Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care (University of Hertfordshire)
	Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
	Continuing Care Conference (CCC)
	Council and Care
	Crossroads Association
	Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
	English Community Care Association (ECCA)
	Essex County Council
	General Social Care Council (GSCC)
	Help the Aged
	Housing Corporation
	Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)
	International Longevity Centre
	Job Centre Plus
	Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)
	Kent County Council
	Kings Fund
	Local Government Association (LGA)
	London Older People's Strategies Group (LOPSG)
	London School of Economics
	Long-Term Conditions Medical Alliance (LMCA)
	Manchester City Council
	National Care Homes Association
	National Institute of Adult Continuing Learning (NIACE)
	Personal Social Services Research Unit(PSSRU) (London School of Economics and University of Kent)
	Parkinson's Disease Society
	Princess Royal Trust for Carers
	Registered Nursing Homes Association (RNHA)
	Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
	Social Care Workforce Research Unit- Kings College London
	Social Work Research and Development Unit- University of York
	Transforming Services with Older People
	United Kingdom Care Association
	University of Stirling (Department of Economics)

Public Sector: Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 393W, on public sector pensions, when he will publish his latest estimate of the total liabilities of unfunded public service pension schemes as at 31 March 2006.

Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer my right hon. Friend the former Chief Secretary gave on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 393W.
	A new estimate will be published in the autumn.

Revenue and Customs: Manpower

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs front-line detection staff with primary responsibility for detecting illegal imports of products of animal origin were employed in each year since 2001-02.

Jane Kennedy: With the exception of certain technical specialists, all HMRC frontline detection staff are employed as multifunctional Customs staff with a responsibility to tackle a range of risks at the border, including dealing with products of animal origin (POAO). None of them are employed with primary responsibility for detecting illegal imports of products of animal origin.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were received to the confidential hotline Customs Confidential in each year since 2000; how many resulted in charges being issued; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Statistics for HMRC's Customs Confidential Hotline are unavailable for the years 2000 to 2002. They are held for 2003 onwards and are:
	
		
			   Calls received 
			 2003 29,581 
			 2004 23,728 
			 2005 31,389 
			 2006 37,950 
			 2007 (to end of July) 22,309 
		
	
	It is not possible to identify the number of charges resulting from these calls. Prosecution is one among a range of options that HMRC may take in relation to intelligence derived from Customs Confidential. In cases that lead to prosecution the intelligence received through Customs Confidential may be a small part only of that used during the course of the investigation.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of HM Revenue and Customs cigarette seizures were of  (a) counterfeit cigarettes and  (b) contraband cigarettes, in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) counterfeit and  (b) contraband cigarette seizures there were of (i) 0-250,000, (ii) 250,001-500,000, (iii) 500,001-750,000, (iv) 750,001-1,000,000, (v) 1,000,001-2,000,000, (vi) 2,000,001-3,000,000, (vii) 3,000,001-4,000,000, (viii) 4,000,001-5,000,000, (ix) 5,000,001-6,000,000 and (x) 6,000,001 or more cigarettes in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The latest HM Revenue  Customs (HMRC) Annual Report, available on the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk covering the period 2001-02 to 2005-06, indicates that HMRC has seized more than 12 billion cigarettes since the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy was launched in 2000. Prior to 2002, HMRC did not estimate the proportion of counterfeit cigarettes seized.
	From 2002 to 2004, data on seizures of cigarettes in quantities above 500,000 sticks, and from 2004, data on seizures in quantities above 250,000 sticks, are published in HMRC Annual Reports. No further breakdown of this information is available.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many confiscation orders concerning suspected illicit tobacco were  (a) requested and  (b) given in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people convicted of using their premises for the sale of unmarked tobacco products were fined in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many people convicted of trading in illicit tobacco not bearing a UK duty-paid fiscal mark were  (a) given a fine and  (b) prohibited to sell tobacco products for up to six months in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many people convicted of  (a) tobacco smuggling and  (b) handling smuggled tobacco were given a (i) fine, (ii) community sentence and (iii) custodial sentence in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what the average time was between seizure of suspected illicit tobacco and cigarettes and criminal charges being issued for  (a) tobacco smuggling and  (b) handling of smuggled tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  how many  (a) seizures,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions there were for the use of premises for the sale of illicit tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  how many  (a) seizures,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions there were for trading in illicit tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  how many  (a) seizures,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions there were for the handling of smuggled tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  how many  (a) seizures,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions there were for smuggling tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: High level data on tobacco seizures, numbers of people sentenced and the value of confiscation orders made are published in HM Revenue  Customs Annual Reportsavailable on the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk. The latest report contains details for years 2001-02 to 2005-06. However, the information is not collated and recorded in a way that would enable the level of detail requested to be identified.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many scanners were in operation as part of the national network of scanners to detect high volume tobacco and cigarette smuggling in freight containers in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Government take very seriously the detection of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco and the fleet of scanners has made a vitally important contribution to the success of the tobacco smuggling strategy. The number of scanners that have been in operation since 2000 is:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2000-01 3 
			 2001-02 12 
			 2002-03 12 
			 2003-04 14 
			 2004-05 14 
			 2005-06 14 
			 2006-07 14

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much hand-rolled tobacco bound for the UK was seized overseas by HM Revenue and Customs overseas officers and their host agencies in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Figures for the amount of hand-rolling tobacco (HRT) seized overseas have not been routinely compiled and published to date. Most seizures of illicit shipments of HRT take place in he UK as the criminal activity normally involves the smuggling of product which has been purchased duty-paid in other member states. These seizure statistics are published in HM Revenue and Customs annual reportsavailable on the HMRC website:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk
	The last report contains details of such seizures from financial years 2001-02 to 2005-06, and indicates that more than 1,150 tonnes of HRT have been seized since the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy was launched.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many illegal cigarettes bound for the UK were seized overseas by HM Revenue and Customs overseas officers and their host agencies in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Revenue and Customs publishes its seizure statistics in its annual reportsavailable on the HMRC website:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk
	These statistics include details of the amount of seizures of illicit cigarettes made overseas as a result of HM Revenue and Customs overseas officers' engagement with their host agencies. The last report contained details of such seizures from financial years 2001-02 to 2005-06, indicating that HMRC has seized more than 12 billion cigarettes since the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy was launched in 2000.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what progress has been made in reaching the operational target for hand-rolled tobacco of reducing the size of the UK illicit market by 1,200 tonnes by 2007-08; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much was spent in each year on the publicity campaign launched in March 2000 to increase public awareness of tobacco smuggling; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many people were employed to tackle tobacco smuggling in each year since 2000, broken down by job description; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how much was spent on tackling hand-rolled tobacco and cigarette smuggling communication campaigns in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The most recent HM Revenue and Customs estimate of the size of the illicit market for hand-rolled tobacco (HRT) is for 2004-05. Estimates for 2000-01 to 2004-05 were published in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses2006 by HMRC in December 2006 and is available in the House of Commons Library.
	An assessment of the HRT illicit market share estimate for 2005-06 will be available at the pre-Budget report 2007.
	The full-time equivalents (FYE) of staff employed to tackle tobacco smuggling for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are shown in the table. Figures for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are not available.
	
		
			   Detection  Investigation  Intelligence  Total 
			 2005-06 1,406 319 325 2,050 
			 2006-07 1,545 278 297 2,120 
		
	
	HMRC have invested just over 5.1 million (excluding VAT) in media campaigns to support the anti-smuggling cigarette and hand-rolling tobacco strategies since March 2000. The spend by year was:
	
		
			   Media  s pend () 
			 2000-01 2,049,968 
			 2001-02 865,772 
			 2002-03 806,193 
			 2003-04 672,449 
			 2004-05 83,368 
			 2005-06 556,382 
			 2006-07 91,993

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the  (a) revenue loss,  (b) illicit market share and  (c) cross-border shopped share of the illicit hand-rolled tobacco market in each year from 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The estimated revenue loss to the Exchequer (duty plus VAT) from the consumption of hand-rolled tobacco supplied illicitly and from legitimate cross-border purchases and their respective market shares of total consumption for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are given in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses2006 published by HMRC in December 2006, which is available in the House of Commons Library.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what average time was taken to confirm or deny that seized  (a) cigarettes and  (b) hand-rolled tobacco was counterfeit before charges could be made in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Since the measures requiring tobacco manufacturers to control their supply chains came into effect on 1 October 2006 the time taken to determine whether seizures of cigarettes or hand rolling tobacco notified to the tobacco manufacturers were counterfeit has been less than 30 days. Prior to this, the time taken varied but was rarely more than two months. The circumstances of each case determine what further action may be taken.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings his Department had with tobacco manufacturers to discuss tobacco smuggling in each year since 2000; what the dates were of the meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Contact with the main UK tobacco manufacturers and exchange of information has been a key part of the success of the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy. Officials of HM Revenue and Customs have met regularly and frequently with UK tobacco manufacturers in each year since 2000 to discuss tobacco smuggling and other issues.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the market share of illicit cigarettes of cross border marketing and smuggling in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Revenue and Customs estimates the market share of illicitly supplied cigarettes consumed in the UK and of cigarettes that have been legitimately cross-border shopped.
	The estimated market share, and revenue loss to the Exchequer, of illicitly supplied and cross-border shopped cigarettes for 2000-01 to 2004-05 are given in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses2006 published by HMRC in December 2006 and is available in the House of Commons Library.

Stamp Duties

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the introduction of the zero rate of stamp duty for zero carbon homes;
	(2)  what records  (a) his Department,  (b) HM Revenue and Customs and  (c) the Valuation Office Agency will collate on the number of house sale transactions that received the zero rate of stamp duty on zero carbon homes;
	(3)  what his Department's definition of a zero carbon residential dwelling is for the purposes of stamp duty.

Kitty Ussher: The draft regulations, which set out (among other matters) the definition of a new zero-carbon home for stamp duty land tax purposes, were circulated to the Public Bill Committee on the Finance Bill in May. The Treasury consulted interested stakeholders on these draft regulations in June and July. It is intended that draft regulations will be laid before Parliament in October under the affirmative procedure with a view to being approved by the House of Commons coming into force.
	It is proposed that the tax relief will apply retrospectively to acquisitions of homes that met the criteria occurring from 1 October 2007, in line with the Government's Budget commitment.
	The tax relief will be claimed using the stamp duty land tax return, which will contain a specific code for this tax relief. HM Revenue and Customs will therefore be able to monitor the number of claims for tax relief and the amount of relief given. HM Treasury will have access to this data in an aggregated form. The Valuation Office Agency has no plans to collate information in respect of the relief.

Tax Allowances: Small Businesses

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of small businesses which will benefit from the introduction of the new annual investment allowance in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

Jane Kennedy: The annual investment allowance (AIA) was introduced as part of the Budget 2007 business tax reforms. The AIA will benefit all those small businesses that make capital investments, regardless of their legal form. There are around 4.3 million small businesses, 2.1 million of which are estimated to be making capital investments. For 95 per cent. of these, the AIA will mean that all of their capital expenditure can be written off in the year of investment.

Tax Credit Act 2002

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many breaches of section 18 of the Tax Credit Act 2002 have occurred since it came into force; and what sums of money were involved in each case.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 17 September 2007
	As set out in my statement of 25 July, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimate that 250,000 awards will need to be reviewed. HMRC estimate that around 20 million in recovered sums will need to be refunded in total.

Tax Credits

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax credit has been reclaimed in each of the last five years; from how many individuals tax credits payments were reclaimed in each such year; and what estimate he has made of the amount to be reclaimed in 2007-08.

Jane Kennedy: For information on tax credit debt and recovery in years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, I refer the hon. Member to table 4, section 2, of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Standard Report in the HM Revenue and Customs 2006-07 accounts, which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrcaccounts2007.htm
	Information on overpaid tax credit awards and debt recovery for 2006-07 and 2007-08 will be published in future annual reports.
	Information on the number of individuals who have had their tax credit overpayment recovered is not available except at disproportionate cost.
	An estimate of the recovery of overpaid tax credits in 2007-08 is not available.

Tax Evasion: Telephone Services

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the Tax Evasion Hotline cost to administer in each month since its inception;
	(2)  how many calls the Tax Evasion Hotline received in each month since its inception;
	(3)  what proportion of calls received by the Tax Evasion Hotline resulted in prosecutions for tax evasion in each month for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs does not currently have a separate record of the cost to administer the Tax Evasion Hotline in each month since its inception. These data could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of calls received by the Tax Evasion Hotline each month since its inception are detailed in the following table. HM Revenue and Customs advertising campaigns can significantly affect the volume of calls received in any month.
	HM Revenue and Customs are unable to provide this information. The exemption at section 31(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act on 'law enforcement' also provides an exemption from disclosure in respect of the proportion of calls received resulting in prosecution.
	
		
			  Calls received by the Tax Evasion Hotline 
			  Month comm.  Calls received 
			 1 October 2005 417 
			 1 November 2005 4,913 
			 1 December 2005 5,426 
			 1 January 2006 6,440 
			 1 February 2006 11,244 
			 1 March 2006 29,387 
			 1 April 2006 11,148 
			 1 May 2006 9,216 
			 1 June 2006 8,554 
			 1 July 2006 7,878 
			 1 August 2006 7,965 
			 1 September 2006 7,923 
			 1 October 2006 7,088 
			 1 November 2006 6,918 
			 1 December 2006 4,540 
			 1 January 2007 6,634 
			 1 February 2007 7,597 
			 1 March 2007 9,710 
			 1 April 2007 7,218 
			 1 May 2007 7,207

Taxation on Gambling

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the effective rate of tax is for bingo played in a licensed bingo premises;
	(2)  what the effective rate of tax is for player-to-player poker played in a casino;
	(3)  how much VAT was paid by licensed bingo clubs in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(4)  how much VAT was paid by casinos in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Total VAT receipts are published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2007. It is not possible to give the breakdown requested. Player-to-player poker played in a casino is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 17.5 per cent. Duty is levied at 15 per cent. on gross profits from bingo and participation fees for mainstage bingo are subject to VAT at the standard rate. The casino and bingo industries are also subject to the usual taxes imposed on business.

Taxation: Overseas Residence

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information contained in paragraphs 2.14 and 2.15 of the April 2003 background paper on reviewing residence and domicile rules in individual taxation for the most recent date for which the information is available.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to update these figures on a directly comparable basis due to changes in the methodology applied since the publication of the background paper. Specifically, whereas the figures set out in the background paper were based on a 10 per cent. sample of the self-assessment system, current data draws on all available self-assessment returns.
	On that basis, data drawn from the 2005-06 self-assessment returns show that some 143,000 have a residence or domicile status which would enable them to benefit from the remittance basis of taxation. Of these, some 114,000 are non-domiciled residents, with the remainder being resident but not ordinarily resident.
	The most recent analysis suggests that around 83,000 individuals completed an employment schedule with UK employment income of about 9.7 billion, giving an average annual employment income of just under 120,000. A smaller subset of 17,000 also returned foreign earnings totalling 900 million which were not remitted to the UK and therefore not liable to tax, giving an average foreign earnings figure of just over 50,000.
	As the data contained in paragraph 2.15 of the background paper was the result of a one-off analytical exercise which has not been repeated, an update is therefore not available.

Terrorism: Finance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of suspected terrorist funds frozen and then unfrozen was in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Since 2001, when the UN's terrorist asset freezing regime was established, 282 accounts totalling approximately 630,000 have been frozen in the UK. Approximately 25,000 has been unfrozen since 2002(1). The Treasury does not publish a historic breakdown of frozen or unfrozen funds for each year, due to the need to avoid the identification, directly or indirectly, of personal or operationally sensitive information. However, we make quarterly statements to Parliament on the operation of the asset freezing regime.
	(1) These figures include approximately $58,000 of suspected terrorist funds frozen in the UK and approximately $31,000 of unfrozen funds. This has been converted using current exchange rates. Future fluctuation in the exchange rate may impact on the contribution this sum makes to future totals of suspected terrorist funds frozen.

Trading Funds

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the economic review of trading funds will include a consultation process with public and private sector stakeholders.

Andy Burnham: We expect the experts commissioned to undertake the study to consult with all stakeholders they consider necessary to inform their work.

Valuation Office

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data the Valuation Office Agency has purchased from the Landmark Information Group in the last five years; and for what purposes.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency's Mineral Valuer provides advice to central Government Departments and public sector clients in respect of valuation issues arising from the re-development of contaminated or potentially contaminated and brownfield land.
	The initial stage of the provision of such advice involves the collation of information from available record sources to establish the previous use history of the subject site.
	The Agency procured the services of the Landmark Information Group as it considers their Enviro Check Report offers the Agency's clients the most efficient and cost-effective solution to the gathering of this information at this time.

Valuation Office

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency has made representations to have access to the energy performance certificate register.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency has not made any representations to have access to the energy performance certificate register.

Valuation Office Agency: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press officers are employed by the Valuation Office Agency.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency employs two (full-time equivalent) people with press officer responsibilities.

Valuation Office: Vetting

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether staff of the Valuation Office Agency who undertake inspections of domestic dwellings for council tax valuation purposes are required to have  (a) basic and  (b) enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer that my right hon. Friend the former Paymaster General gave the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 February 2006,  Official Report, columns 1036-37W.
	Since April 2007, one in five of new staff has been subject to basic criminal record bureau checks in line with the HM Government baseline personnel security standards.

Water Charges: South West Region

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average proportion of household income spent on water bills in each county in the South West.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 20 September 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the average proportion of household income spent on water bills in each county in the South West. (154767)
	Estimates of household expenditure and income are based on the Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS), which is based on a sample of approximately 7,000 households in the UK. Statistics on household expenditure are published in 'Family Spending', the latest edition of which was published on 18th January 2007 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=361). An analysis of the household income data collected in the EFS also appears in the ONS analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', the most recent analysis being published on 17th May 2007 (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits). The survey sample is not sufficiently large to allow reliable results to be produced for counties. However, using the data underlying these reports, estimates have been calculated of the proportion of household income spent on water bills in the South West region, compared to the UK as a whole.
	In 2005/06, average household expenditure on water charges was 329 per year for the South West compared to 277 for the UK. In the same year, the average household disposable income in the South West of England was 25,197, compared to 26,039 for the UK as a whole. So the proportion of disposable household income spent on water bills was 1.3% in the South West and 1.1% for the UK as a whole.

Welfare Tax Credits

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have written off in misplaced tax credits in  (a) Hampshire and  (b) England in each year since their inception.

Jane Kennedy: The total value of disputed overpayments in the UK written off as a result of official error was around the following:
	
		
			   Value ( million) 
			 2004-05 5.8 
			 2005-06 180.0 
			 2006-07 9.0 
		
	
	The value of disputed overpayments written off in 2005-06 was greater because HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cleared a large number of cases from the first year of tax credits where error rates were much higher. HMRC details of the procedures adopted between April 2005 and 30 September 2005 were published in the Supplementary memorandum submitted by HMRC in the Treasury Select Commission's report: The administration of tax credits: sixth report of session 2005-06: Volume 2 Oral and written evidence (page Ev193), House of Commons papers 811-II 2005-06.
	The information requested is not available at county level or for England.

Welfare Tax Credits

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people who were underpaid tax credits in 2005-06 were living on incomes of less than 60 per cent. of UK median earnings.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, information on the number of underpaid tax credit awards in 2005-06 by level of income used for calculating tax credit entitlement is available in Table 5 of the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2005-06. Supplement on Payments in 2005-06, which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personaltax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm

Welfare Tax Credits

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants had their entitlements wrongly calculated in each year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Information on error and fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits can be found on HMRC's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personaltax-credits/error-fraud.htm

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the increase in the annual entitlement to tax credits as a result of increasing the income disregard from 2,500 to 25,000; what the margin of error is in that calculation; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 19 December 2006,  Official Report, column 1472W.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates of the number of tax credit compliance staff have been made public since 1 March 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Ministers and officials update Parliament on tax credit staffing numbers as necessary and these are on the record. For the most recent figures on compliance staff available, I refer the hon. Member to the Committee of the Public Accounts 22nd report, of Session 2006-07, on tax credits and specifically to the oral evidence by HMRC officials on 23 October 2006 given at question 80.

Welfare Tax Credits: Illegal Immigrants

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms he has put in place to track the amount of tax credits paid erroneously to illegal immigrants.

Jane Kennedy: Persons subject to immigration control are not generally entitled to tax credits. This follows long standing Government policy. Tackling Error and Fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits is available on the HMRC website. This document sets out what HMRC has been doing and will continue to do, to tackle error and fraud.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was overpaid in tax credits to deceased claimants in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: Around 2 million was overpaid in tax credits in each of the last three years, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, where the award ceased due to the death of an applicant.
	This can occur due to the time taken to notify HMRC of a death.
	HMRC are currently exploring whether added flexibility could be built in to mitigate overpayments in the circumstance.

Welfare Tax Credits: Scotland

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 62WS, on tax credit administration, how many awards HM Revenue and Customs will be reviewing from people living in  (a) Scotland and  (b) Orkney and Shetland in 2003-04 and 2004-05; and how many households in (i) Scotland and (ii) Orkney and Shetland will be contacted about their 2005-06 awards.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC will be reviewing approximately 16,000 awards in Scotland for 2003-04 and 2004-05, of which around 100 are in Orkney and Shetland.
	Around 6,000 households in Scotland have been contacted about their 2005-06 awards, around 50 of which are in Orkney and Shetland.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the recourse available to inhabitants of Ascension Island under the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made a formal assessment of the application of the Human Rights Act 1998 to those who work and live on Ascension Island. It is a matter for the courts of St. Helena and dependencies to determine (under the English Law (Application) Ordinance and/or St. Helena Law (Application) Ordinance) whether UK Acts of Parliament should apply in these jurisdictions. However, the UK has extended the European Convention on Human Rights and the Right of Individual Petition to St. Helena and dependencies.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he or his Ministers plan to visit Ascension Island; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: There are no plans for a ministerial visit to Ascension Island at present.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2007,  Official Report, column 248W, on Ascension Island, what the programme of information and education consisted of; what materials have been distributed on Ascension Island; what public meetings have been held; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The programme of information and education about the benefits of participation in the democratic process is ongoing. The Governor held open public meetings to discuss governance and democracy issues in May and September. Public consultation, including an open meeting in May, has taken place on new draft entry control and harbours legislation. Public consultation has also taken place during 2007 on taxation reform, for which consultation papers were published and circulated. The Governor and the Ascension Island Administrator have consulted the Ascension Island Advisory Group on a number of issues, including policy on property and businesses.

Bermuda Housing Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public response was made by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Governor to the television broadcast of the Premier Ewart Brown of Bermuda on 1 June 2007 during which he criticised the Governor in relation to the Bermuda Housing Corporation investigation; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Governor and the Premier issued a joint press statement on 7 June 2007 (available on the Government of Bermuda website, www.gov.bm). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office drew on this statement in answer to press inquiries.

Bermuda: Politics and Government

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what alterations to protocol were proposed by Dr. Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda, to the Governor, in June 2007, with regard to the future relationship between the holders of their respective offices; what response the UK Government have made; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are unaware of any alterations to protocol proposed by Dr. Ewart Brown, Premier of Bermuda in June.

Bermuda: Territorial Waters

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) class of maritime craft,  (b) numbers of craft and  (c) numbers of personnel are maintained by the Government of Bermuda to ensure law enforcement and national security in and around the territorial waters of Bermuda; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We understand that the Bermuda Regiment currently has the following equipment in service: 23 ft Rigid Inflatable Boats and 17 ft Boston Whalers; the number of crafts are two Rigid Inflatable Boats and two Boston Whalers; and there are 16 part time soldiers in the Boat Troop.
	The Bermuda Police Service currently has the following vessels in service: 27 ft Boston Whalers, 22 ft Boston Whalers, 24 ft Halmatic Rigid Hull Inflatables, 52 ft Austal Patrol Boat; the number of craft are two 27 ft and 22 ft Boston Whalers, two Halmatic Rigid Hull Inflatables and one Austal Patrol Boat; and there are 17 officers in the Marine Unit.

Bosnia: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 We are concerned by the lack of political progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Elections in 2006 saw an increase in ethnic nationalist rhetoric. Since then, progress on the reform agenda has slowed. The priority is for BiH's leaders to reach agreement on police reform, a key condition for conclusion of BiH's Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. Longer-term, constitutional reform will also be necessary for BiH to deliver effective governance for its citizens and carry out the reforms that the EU accession process will require. However, there has been little progress on either of these issues since the elections.
	We fully support High Representative/EU Special Representative (EUSR) Miroslav Lajcak and appreciate his efforts to unblock key reforms since he took up office in July. We regularly express our concern about the lack of progress to BiH's leaders bilaterally, as well as through the EU and in conjunction with the Office of the High Representative/EUSR.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what response his Department has made to proposal of the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands that Governors should be excluded from future meetings of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which Chief Ministers of overseas territories have indicated their support for the idea that Governors should be excluded from future meetings of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: In advance of the November 2006 Overseas Territories Consultative Council, the Chief Ministers and equivalents of the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands proposed that governors should not attend the meeting. My noble Friend the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, subsequently agreed with Chief Ministers that governors should attend the meeting to help the discussions on issues where they were particularly closely engaged in the territories, including law enforcement, international financial regulation and disaster management. A successful Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting was held on this basis.

Burma: Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of heroin production in Myanmar.

Kim Howells: The UK does not conduct an independent assessment of levels of heroin production in Burma. We rely on the internationally accepted reporting from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world_ drug_report.html. According to their 2005 World Drugs Report it is estimated that 370 tons of heroin were produced in Burma in 2004. The UNODC did not provide figures for heroin production in Burma for 2005 or 2006.

Cayman Islands: Politics and Government

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the constitution of the Cayman Islands varies from other overseas territories of comparable size in that the Governor chairs the Cabinet and there is no premier or chief minister; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Each overseas territory constitution is different. The differences reflect the constitutional development of the territory at the time the constitution was agreed. The Cayman Islands constitution came into force in 1972.
	In the Cayman Islands, the governor presides at meetings of the cabinet. This is the case in all other Caribbean overseas territories. In Bermuda, the Premier presides.
	The office of Leader of Government Business was established by the Cayman Islands (Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2003 and the holder of this office performs a role similar to the Premier or Chief Minister in other overseas territories.

Chen Guangcheng

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Chinese Government on the assault in prison of Chen Guangcheng; and whether the Government are continuing to urge the Chinese Government to release him.

Meg Munn: We monitor the case of Chen Guangcheng very closely, and have raised his case repeatedly with the Chinese Government, both bilaterally and through the EU. Following reports that Mr. Guangcheng was beaten in Linyi prison on 16 June, the UK supported an EU demarche on his case on 2 July. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, raised the case most recently during his visit to Beijing in August. We will continue to push for progress on his case at every available opportunity.

Colombia: Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of cocaine production in Colombia.

Kim Howells: The UK does not conduct an independent assessment of levels of cocaine production in Colombia. We rely on the internationally accepted reporting from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. According to their World Drugs Report 2007 available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world_drug_report.html, Colombian potential cocaine production in 2006 was estimated at 610 metric tons.

Cuba: Political Prisoners

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of political prisoners in Cuba.

Meg Munn: It is difficult to estimate the number of political prisoners in Cuba as the Cuban Government maintains tight control over such information. However, Amnesty International's 2007 report identifies at least 69 prisoners of conscience in Cuba and they are currently reviewing the cases of dozens of other prisoners who could also be considered prisoners of conscience see:
	http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Americas/Cuba.
	In a report dated 5 July 2007, the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCHRNRa standard non-official source of human rights information in Cuba) documented 246 political prisoners. The CCHRNR has also reported that thousands of young Cubans are imprisoned on the charge of peligrosidad predelictiva, which means they have not committed a crime but are considered likely to do so. More information on the human rights situation in Cuba can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2006 Annual Human Rights Report at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/humanrights.

Cuba: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prospect of democratic transition in Cuba.

Meg Munn: Last year's changes in the leadership in Cuba have not, so far, led to evidence of significant change in Cuban Government policy. UK policy continues to follow the 1996 EU Common Position, which aims to encourage a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights in Cuba. As part of this policy, the UK/EU also continues to pursue constructive engagement with both the Cuban Government and all other sectors of Cuban society, including members of the opposition.
	We remain concerned about the political situation in Cuba, which is a one-party state with considerable restrictions on fundamental human rights. We continue to press the Cuban authorities to respect these human rights, including political freedoms.

Cuba: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Cuba about  (a) the release of political prisoners,  (b) freedom of speech and  (c) freedom of political expression.

Meg Munn: On 30 April 2007, my right. hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, expressed concern about political prisoners and other human rights issues during a meeting with Cuban Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade Antonio Carricarte. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office raises human rights issuesincluding the release of political prisoners, freedom of speech and freedom of political expressionon a regular basis with the Cuban Government.

Departments: Contracts

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances his Department awards contracts to outside organisations without undertaking a tendering process.

Jim Murphy: Occasionally and exceptionally competitive tendering is not possible due to the nature of the goods and services being purchased. Such circumstances might arise as a result of the following:
	when equipment being purchased needs to be compatible with existing equipment;
	when only one company or supplier is known to have the special technical competence required to provide the service;
	to repair an item and only the original manufacturer can do so;
	when a repeat order needs to be placed and the original supplier holds the tooling, artwork, designs;
	in cases of extreme urgencybut not if it arises because of inadequate planning; and
	for contracts which must be accompanied by special security measures or when the protection of the essential interests of the security of the United Kingdom require it.
	All proposals of this nature to contract with a single source (i.e. without undertaking a tendering exercise) with an estimated value in excess of 1,000 need careful consideration and specific approval. The supporting case should at a minimum cover the following factors:
	why the supplier concerned is the only possible supplier of our requirements;
	what is the basis for believing that the supplier concerned will provide value for money? What comparisons have been made in this area;
	what market research has been carried out to identify other potential suppliers. And with what result;
	what is the full estimated value of the contract. What breakdown of costs is available; and
	is the award of this contract likely to lead to further similar business being awarded to the same supplier without competition.
	Where single source tendering is proposed for purchases which exceed 1,000, a single source justification form must be completed and include an assurance that value for money will be achieved and background information covering as a minimum the points above to support that assertion. Decisions on single source purchasing where the value of the requirement is between 1,000 and 5,000 may be made by the internal sponsor department although advice should be sought from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's procurement centre of excellence, Procurement Strategy Unit, as required.
	Single source proposals in excess of 5,000 must be submitted for approval to the Procurement Strategy Unit. They must be considered by an official with specific delegated authority for single source action. Because of the risks, officers who are authorised to approve single source tenders are instructed to probe and challenge where necessary the justification for such action and record the reasons for their decision.

Departments: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of people employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are disabled.

Meg Munn: 250 staff serving in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) at 30 September 2006 had declared a disability. This represents 4 per cent. of our total UK-based workforce. These figures include staff at Wilton Park Conference Centre and in FCO Services, both executive agencies of the FCO.
	The latest published data records the disability status of civil servants in departments and agencies at 30 September 2006. It appears in Civil Service Statistics 2006 at Table P. This document is produced by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed from the following web-site addresses:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899Pos=ColRank=1Rank=422.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/2006CivilServiceStatistics.pdf.
	Declaration of a disability is voluntary.

Departments: Legislation

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1054W, on departments: legislation, which  (a) sections and  (b) schedules of the specified acts have been (i) repealed and (ii) not brought into force.

Jim Murphy: No section or schedule of the two specified Acts has been brought into force.

Departments: Tribunals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Meg Munn: Between June 2006 and May 2007 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid 112,128.97 in legal costs in relation to employment tribunal claims.

Drugs

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the UK has made to initiatives to destroy drug-related crops by chemical spraying in foreign countries; and if he will make a survey.

Kim Howells: The UK has not provided funding for the destruction of illicit drug crops by chemical spraying overseas.
	We have, however, undertaken a jointly funded project with the Organisation of American States to study the environmental and health impacts of the chemicals used in the aerial eradication programme of the Colombian Government.

EC Reform: Treaties

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes from unanimity to other forms of decision-making would be enacted by the existing text of the proposed EU Reform Treaty.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 I refer the right hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 26 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1468-69W.

Egypt: Religious Freedom

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the Egyptian Government  (a) to allow Christian converts from Muslim backgrounds to change their religion in their identity papers and  (b) to remove completely the requirement for a person's religion to be stated in Egyptian identity documents.

Kim Howells: We are concerned about the problems arising from Egyptian identity cards that allow one of only three religions to be listed on them, and are aware that it is very difficult for Christian converts to change their religion on their identity cards. We have raised this regularly with the Egyptian Government both through the European Union and bilaterally, the last occasion being in September 2007. We will continue to raise this matter.

Embassies: Official Cars

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cars are owned by UK embassies overseas, broken down by  (a) location and  (b) make and model of car; and what the annual budget was for (i) acquisition, (ii) running and (iii) maintenance of those cars in 2006-07.

Jim Murphy: The number of vehicles owned by our missions overseas is approximately 1,200 (current to the end of August 2007) and is constantly changing.
	We are, however, unable to provide the information and breakdown that the hon. Member has requested because the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information centrally and it would it incur disproportionate cost to collate it.

Entry Clearances

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications have been refused in each of the last five years.

Kim Howells: The information requested by the hon. Member can be found in the following table.
	
		
			   Total applications  Total refusals  Percentage refusals 
			 2006-07 2,753,078 515,084 19 
			 2005-06 2,550,277 473,742 19 
			 2004-05 2,544,352 483,457 19 
			 2003-04 2,233,837 339,616 15.2 
			 2002-03 1,941,910 249,830 12.9 
			  Sources: UKvisas Entry Clearance Statistics 2002-03; 2003-04; 2004-05; 2005-06 UKvisas Annual Report 2006-07 
		
	
	All UK entry clearance statistics are published on:
	www.ukvisas.gov.uk

EU Countries: Arms Trade

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek changes to the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports to prevent its circumvention by the re-export of arms between third countries.

Kim Howells: The UK has one of the most rigorous and transparent export licensing regimes in the world. All UK export licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria on a case-by-case basis and will not be approved if the export contravenes the Criteria or other international commitments. Criterion Seven refers explicitly to
	The existence of a risk that the equipment will be diverted within the buyer country or re-exported under undesirable conditions.
	If the Government believe that there is a risk, then the application will be refused.
	The Government are however, open-minded about the case for further enhancing export controls. On 18 June, the Government launched a review of the export control legislation introduced in 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002. This includes a public consultation that seeks comments on the impact and effectiveness of the legislation, and whether there is a need to change or enhance the controls further.

EU Reform: NATO

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the likely effect the EU Reform Treaty will have on the NATO alliance.

Jim Murphy: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will remain the cornerstone of the UK's security policy, a key means of delivery for the UK's foreign and security policy objectives and the only organisation for collective defence in Europe.
	The European Security and Defence Policy supports and complements NATO. The EU Reform Treaty text makes clear that NATO is
	the foundation for the collective defence
	of its members and the instrument for implementing that commitment.

Gaza: Frontiers

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations his Department has made on returning EU observers to the Rafah border crossing;
	(2)  what recent representations the Government has made to Israel and Egypt on re-opening the Rafah border crossing.

Kim Howells: Officials at our embassy in Cairo raised the issue of Palestinians stranded on the Gaza/Egypt border with Tareq Maaty, Egyptian Deputy Assistant Minister for Refugee and Consular Matters on 23 August. Mr. Maaty confirmed that following discussions the Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit had in Israel in late July, the vast majority of the 6,000 Palestinians stuck in the Sinai have now returned to Gaza via the Erez crossing. While Hamas still controls the Rafah crossing, Egypt, Israel and Palestinian President Abbas are unable to guarantee the security needed to reopen it. We continue to stress to the Israelis the importance of opening the crossings into Gaza.
	We believe there is an urgent need to re-open the Rafah crossing. The 23 July the EU General Affairs External Relations Council called:
	on all parties to work towards an opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza for both humanitarian and commercial flows. Karni and other crossings must be open on a regular and predictable basis, in view of reaching the transit volumes foreseen in the Agreement on Movement and Access. This is necessary to ensure the viability of the Palestinian economy and to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people, both in Gaza and in the west bank. It also underlines the need to re-open the Rafah crossing point and stands ready to resume the full activities of the EU Border Assistance Mission Rafah as soon as conditions allow.

Hina Jilani

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage Indonesia to allow  (a) foreign journalists,  (b) independent observers and  (c) NGOs into West Papua.

Meg Munn: Officials at our Embassy in Jakarta visit Papua regularly and meet local officials, academics, journalists and non-governmental organisation (NGOs). We continue to encourage the Indonesian Government to allow access to Papua for media organisations. We are aware that the BBC correspondent based in Jakarta was given permission to visit Papua in September. We will continue to press the authorities to permit other journalists to visit.
	Hina Jilani, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders was given permission to visit Papua in June. Access to Papua for developmental NGOs has improved significantly since the election of Governor Suebu in 2006 and a number of international NGOs and UN agencies have established representative offices in Jayapura.

Indonesia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he and other Ministers from his Department have to visit Indonesia.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Indonesia in the immediate future. I am considering making a visit to the region as part of my ministerial duties. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East visited in April and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly visit Indonesia. The bilateral relationship between the UK and Indonesia is good, with strong political links. We work closely with the Indonesian Government on key areas of shared concern including counter terrorism, climate change and inter-faith.

Iran: Kidnapping

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iranian Government for information on the physical health and wellbeing of Iranian trade union leader Mansour Ossanlou, who was abducted in Tehran; and if he will call for his prompt release.

Kim Howells: Mansour Ossanlou, President of the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, has been arrested and detained several times over the last two years for his involvement in peaceful industrial action by the bus union. We, along with the EU, have serious concerns about Iran's commitment to uphold its international obligations with regard to freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to form or join trade unions. We have therefore been monitoring Mr. Ossanlou's situation closely. We were extremely concerned at his forcible detention by unidentified assailants on 10 July. It has since been confirmed that he is being held in Evin Prison in Tehran and is being investigated for alleged distribution of propaganda against the regime. We understand that neither his family nor his lawyers have had full access to visit him in prison.
	On 16 July I called in the Iranian ambassador to London to discuss human rights issues. I raised specific concerns about the treatment of Mr. Ossanlou, and urged Iran to ensure that he is treated well and in accordance with his rights. I highlighted that we consider his arrest to be a direct breach of Iran's commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In meetings with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 July and 1 September, the EU presidency also condemned Mr. Ossanlou's violent arrest and detention for peaceful actions in support of civil rights.

Iran: Nuclear Power

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK policy is on the 21 August 2007 agreement between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran in relation to Iran's nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 The agreement announced on 21 August between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sets out a workplan for Iran to address outstanding issues concerning its past nuclear programme. If Iran implements it in full, it may prove to be a step towards resolving the Iranian nuclear problem. But addressing the outstanding issues is only one of the steps the International Community requires Iran to take in order to restore confidence in its intentions. As the UN Security Council has unanimously demanded in Resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747, and as the IAEA Board of Governors made clear in its Resolution GOV/2006/14 of February 2006, Iran also needs to implement fully the Additional Protocol and additional measures that the IAEA has requested, and to suspend enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. Until Iran meets these obligations we will continue to follow the dual track strategy agreed with our partners in the E3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States), and to discuss further measures aimed at persuading Iran to fulfil all its international obligations.

Iraq Constitution

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help the UK Government are providing to secure the delivery of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.

Kim Howells: Implementation of Article 140 is a matter for the Government of Iraq. We continue to encourage the Iraqi and Kurdish regional authorities to ensure that the Article 140 process is fair and transparent and reflects, so far as is possible, the views of each of the different communities involved.

Iraq: Armed Forces

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2007,  Official Report, column 973W, on Iraq: armed forces, what changes were made to agreed plans as a result of the events referred to.

Kim Howells: As I said in my response to my right hon. Friend on 18 May 2007,  Official Report, column 973W, the detail of exchanges between the Government and the US Administration in 2003 remains confidential. Planning remained flexible throughout this period to take full account of developments on the ground.

Iraq: Elections

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects there to be new elections in Iraq.

Kim Howells: Article 56 of the Iraqi constitution allows for elections for the Council of Representatives to be held 45 days preceding the conclusion of the Council of Representatives' four-calendar-year electoral term. The current electoral term began on 16 March 2006, the date of the first session of the present Council of Representatives. Elections should therefore be held on 30 January 2010.
	The timing of the next round of provincial elections is subject to legislation being drafted by the Government of Iraq.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been paid to private military security companies in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan to protect (i) Foreign and Commonwealth Office personnel, (ii) other British Government personnel and (iii) British Government civilian and military infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 10 September 2007
	 The amounts paid to private security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Government personnel and Government civilian and military infrastructure are provided as follows.
	
		
			
			 Iraq 192,000,000 
			 Afghanistan 44,000,000 
		
	
	These payments relate to contracts put in place by the FCO and certain other Government Departments in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2008.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will take steps to bring to justice those Islamic extremists responsible for the systematic intimidation and driving out of Christians from Dora district and the neighbourhoods of Al-Baya'a, Al-Thurat and Al-Saydia in Baghdad; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Responsibility for investigating and prosecuting crimes committed in Iraq is the responsibility of the Iraqi security forces and judicial authorities. The Government remain deeply concerned about the high levels of violence which Iraqis, including Christians, are having to endure. We continue to raise this in our regular contacts with the Iraqi Government and to press for action to protect all Iraqis. We understand that the Iraqi authorities, with the backing of coalition forces, have increased the security presence in Dora.

Jamaica: Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of cannabis production in Jamaica.

Kim Howells: The UK does not conduct an independent assessment of levels of cannabis production in Jamaica. We rely on the internationally accepted reporting from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). According to their World Drugs Report 2007, available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world_drug_ report.html, cannabis production (herb and resin) takes place in nearly all the countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The UNODC report estimates that Jamaican cannabis resin represented 3.1 per cent. of global production in 2003-05.

Maldives: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the discussions with President Gayoom of the Maldives during his recent visit to the UK covered  (a) charges brought against members of the opposition and  (b) the use of state resources and media for President Gayoom's party's campaign for the referendum.

Kim Howells: My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, met President Gayoom at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 20 July. They discussed the economic and political situation in Maldives, but did not cover the specific issues raised by the hon. Member. Lord Malloch-Brown issued a statement following the meeting calling for free and fair elections and successful conduct of the referendum which is available on the FCO website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1007029391629a=KArticleaid=1184751833263year=2007month=2007-07-01

Maldives: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress made by the Special Majlis towards amending the new constitution of the Maldives.

Kim Howells: Since the election of the Special Majlis (Constituent Assembly), progress towards the new constitution has been slow. But there have been advances, in particular in relation to the legalisation of political parties, a more tolerant approach to press freedom and the release from detention of many political prisoners.
	The referendum in Maldives on 18 August has given the Special Majlis a mandate to develop a constitution based on a presidential system of government. We urge all political parties to work together to ensure that this is done in a transparent manner and that it results in a constitution which delivers a liberal multi-party democracy.

Maldives: Politics and Government

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made by the Government of the Maldives in reforming the judiciary since the visit of UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers in February 2007.

Kim Howells: Judicial reform is an important part of the reform process in Maldives. The Maldivian Government has stated publicly that they are drafting secondary legislation on the regulation of the judicial sector. This will need to be compatible with new draft constitutional provisions. We understand that the UN Development Programme is funding an international consultant whose role is to provide technical assistance to the Maldivian Government for this purpose.

Maldives: Referendums

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy for the UK or the EU to send international observers to the referendum to be held in the Maldives on 18 August.

Kim Howells: At short notice, the Maldivian Government invited the EU, Commonwealth and the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation to observe the referendum. The EU and Commonwealth were unable to send formal observer missions, although the Commonwealth did send a small Election Experts Team. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo, accredited to Maldives, visited the country on polling day and met key stakeholders.

Northern Cyprus

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commissioner for Cyprus last visited northern Cyprus; who he met from the Turkish Cypriot Administration on that occasion; and what area of northern Cyprus he visited.

Jim Murphy: Our High Commissioner in Nicosia visits northern Cyprus frequently. On 3 October he accompanied my right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), in her role as Special Representative to Cyprus, on her calls on a wide range of representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community in northern Nicosia.

Northern Cyprus: Property

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between his Department and property estate agents in the United Kingdom who offer properties in northern Cyprus for sale to British citizens on the advice to be offered to prospective purchasers.

Jim Murphy: The Government have no locus to intervene with estate agents in the UK offering properties for sale in northern Cyprus. As such, no discussions have taken place. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel advice remains the most appropriate and effective way for the Government to warn British citizens of the potential risks involved.

Northern Cyprus: Property

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with officials of the Turkish Cypriot Administration in northern Cyprus on the extent of private housing development taking place in northern Cyprus; and when such discussions last took place.

Jim Murphy: Our High Commission in Nicosia regularly raises the issue of property development with the Turkish Cypriot leadership, most recently in September 2007.

Northern Cyprus: Property

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have been received from the British High Commissioner for Cyprus on the extent of private housing development taking place in northern Cyprus.

Jim Murphy: Our High Commission in Nicosia reports regularly on the general scale and location of property development in northern Cyprus, as well as on other specific issues such as electrification of the Karpas region.

Pakistan: Frontiers

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his  (a) Pakistani and  (b) United States counterparts on securing the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan; what the outcome was of these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 12 September 2007
	 I have discussed issues relating to Afghanistan-Pakistan border security on a number of occasions, including with Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri and with US Secretary of State Rice. All parties have reaffirmed their long-term commitment to Afghanistan, and the desire to see stable and peaceful development in the border areas and the wider region.

Palestinians: Entry Clearances

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many entry clearance applications have been received from Palestinian citizens residing in  (a) east Jerusalem,  (b) the west bank and  (c) the Gaza strip in the last 12 months; and what percentage of these applications were approved.

Kim Howells: Our consulate general in Jerusalem processes entry clearance applications from residents of east Jerusalem, Gaza and the west bank.
	Between 1 October 2006 and 1 October 2007 the consulate general received 1,075 applications for entry clearance from holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents living in the west bank and Gaza. 880 of these applications were issued and 154 were refused. Forty-one applications were either withdrawn, lapsed or are in progress. To collate statistics on whether applicants are resident in the west bank or Gaza would incur disproportionate cost as details of applicants' residency are not recorded centrally.
	Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem do not hold Palestinian Authority travel documents. They may apply for entry clearance using a Jordanian T Series document or an Israeli issued Laissez Passer.
	There were 543 applications from holders of Jordanian T Series documents, Jordanian passports and holders of Israeli issued Laissez Passers, which show the nationality as Jordanian. To determine which ones are from Palestinians resident in east Jerusalem would incur disproportionate cost.

Palestinians: Entry Clearances

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons entry visas were not granted to the Palestine under-19 football squad and its support staff; and what representations he has received on the matter.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) on 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2008W.
	A total of 262 letters had been received up to and including 3 October on this matter.

Russia: Entry Clearances

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average waiting time is for Russian  (a) students,  (b) politicians,  (c) business people and  (d) others between application for and grant of visas to visit the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: UKvisas does not keep statistics on average waiting times for different types of visa applications. Instead, UKvisas performance is measured against the following Public Service Agreement (PSA) standards:
	PSA 1: 90 per cent. of straightforward non-settlement applications to be processed within 24 hours.
	PSA 2: 90 per cent. of non-settlement applications requiring further inquiries or interview to be processed within 15 days.
	PSA 3: 90 per cent. of settlement applications to be processed within 12 weeks.
	Our visa sections in Russia exceeded these standards in the 2006-07 and 2005-06 financial years. In 2005-06, an average of 92 per cent. of PSA 1 applications were processed within 24 hours, 97.4 per cent. of PSA 2 applications were processed within 15 days, and 100 per cent. of PSA 3 applications were processed within 12 weeks.
	Provisional figures for 2006-07 show that, on average, 92 per cent. of PSA 1 applications were processed within 24 hours, 97 per cent. of PSA 2 applications were processed within 15 days, and 100 per cent. of PSA 3 applications were processed within 12 weeks.

Russia: Entry Clearances

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information is provided to Russian applicants for visas to visit the UK.

Kim Howells: The information provided to Russian applicants is a combination of generic material that applies to all visa applicants and tailored guidance relevant to applications in Russia.
	This information is available primarily through the UKvisas main website: www.ukvisas.ov.uk, our embassy in Moscow's website: www.britaininrussia.ru and the website of UKvisas' commercial partner in Russia: www.ukvac-ru.com.
	A range of printed information on applications and procedures is also available at the four visa application centres in Russia operated by VFS.

Special Envoys

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special envoys have been appointed to  (a) foreign countries,  (b) overseas and dependent territories and  (c) states under UN mandates since 27 June 2007.

Kim Howells: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 Two special envoys to either foreign countries, overseas and dependent territories or states under UN mandates have been appointed since 27 June 2007. Michael Williams has been appointed the UK Special Representative on the Middle East and Special Projects. (Further information is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename:=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1007029391629a=KArticleaid=1184758541371%20yeai=2007month=2007-08-01date=2007-08-03.)
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) has been appointed as the Special Representative to Cyprus, (further details are available on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12240.asp.)

Timor-Leste: Extradition

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Indonesian officials on the extradition to East Timor of Col. Burhanuddin Siagian.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with Indonesian officials on the extradition to East Timor of Indonesian Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian. We believe that this is a matter for consideration between the Indonesian and East Timorese Governments.
	The UK has consistently expressed concern to both the Indonesian and East Timorese Governments about impunity for those responsible for human rights abuses in East Timor. These issues are pursued through their bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF). We have encouraged both governments to make the CTF a process that enjoys the confidence of the victims and the international community.

UK Trade and Investment: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press officers are employed by UK Trade and Investment.

Meg Munn: Four press officers are employed by UK Trade and Investment.

Visa Facilitation Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost has been to public funds of payments made to Visa Facilitation Services for the provision of an online visa application service in  (a) India,  (b) Nigeria and  (c) Russia.

Kim Howells: The Visa Facilitation Services online application services in India, Nigeria and Russia are funded by a handling fee charged to applicants. No public funds have been involved in the provision of this service.

Visa Facilitation Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to seek financial compensation from Visa Facilitation Services for the security failures set out in the report of the Independent Investigation published on 28th July; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: No, as no financial loss was incurred. The independent investigator concluded that she could find no evidence that any personal data were misused as a result of the breach of security at the Visa Facilitation Services online visa application facility. We are committed to working with Visa Facilitation Services to ensure that a high standard of customer service is maintained under the contract, which replaces the previous arrangements.

Visa Facilitation Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has any remaining contracts with Visa Facilitation Services in force; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: UKvisas signed a commercial partnership agreement with VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd. (Visa Facilitation Services) on 27 February 2007. This contract provides that VF Worldwide Holdings will supply UKvisas with visa application and related services in the far east, Former Soviet Union, Gulf and Pakistan, South Asia, South East Asia (excluding Australia and New Zealand), Southern, Central and Eastern Africa and West Africa. This contract is being rolled out across the world gradually throughout 2007. As it comes into effect in each country, it will supersede any previous existing contracts between UKvisas and Visa Facilitation Services in that country.
	Visa Facilitation Services currently provides a service for UKvisas in China, India, Qatar and Russia under contracts which have not yet been superseded by the 27 February 2007 contract.

Visa Facilitation Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether disciplinary action has been taken against members of staff at UKvisas following the report of the Independent Investigator into breaches of data security in the Visa Facilitation Services online visa application facility; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has accepted all of the recommendations made by the independent investigator in her report into the data breach at the Visa Facilitation Services online visa application facility. None recommended disciplinary action against UKvisas staff.

Zimbabwe: Entry Clearances

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a determination to be made on visa application number VC 005578 submitted on 7 September 2006 at the British embassy in Zimbabwe.

Kim Howells: Our embassy in Harare issued visa application number VC 005578 on 20 August, following the authentication of the applicant's documents by the Zimbabwean authorities on 16 August.

Zimbabwe: Entry Clearances

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average time was that the British embassy in Zimbabwe had to wait to receive a response from the Zimbabwean authorities for the authentication of documents submitted with a visa application in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: The waiting time for our embassy in Harare to receive a response from the Zimbabwean authorities for the authentication of official documents submitted with a visa application over the last 12 months has varied from four weeks to 12 months.
	Visa section staff at our embassy in Harare have no control over the time the Zimbabwean authorities take to respond to such requests, and continue to chase any request for authentication of documents.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many attendances there have been at Type 1 accident and emergency departments  (a) in total and  (b) per 100,000 population in each year since 1997-98 in England, broken down by strategic health authority area.

Ben Bradshaw: Prior to quarter 1 (April to June) 2001-02, attendance data were collected only as a total figure for all types of accident and emergency (A and E) department (major departments, single specialty departments and minor injury and illness services, including minor injury units). A and E attendances split down into A and E type were first collected in quarter 1 (April to June) 2002-03. Therefore, it is not possible to provide Type 1 attendance figures prior to 2002-03.
	The following tables show data on the number of attendances and the number of attendances per 100,000 head of population, at Type 1 A and E departments for strategic health authorities in England since 2002-03 to 2006-07.
	
		
			  Number of attendances and the number of attendances per 100,000 head of population, at Type 1 A and E departments, strategic health authorities in England, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   Attendances  Attendances per 100,000 population 
			  SHA name  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2002-03  2003-04  20040-05  2005-06 
			 England 11,994,874 12,665,482 13,265,820 13,553,686 24,158 25,399 26,473 26,857 
			  
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 389,855 417,568 444,667 448,799 17,758 18,808 19,836 19,787 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 337,644 358,192 388,508 399,056 20,939 22,100 23,899 24,369 
			 Essex HA 324,991 367,679 396,113 405,789 20,002 22,505 24,100 24,485 
			 North West London HA 622,819 649,680 712,502 750,612 34,660 36,128 39,447 41,021 
			 North Central London HA 402,706 472,524 484,899 465,785 33,257 38,838 39,583 37,544 
			 North East London HA 469,186 521,654 579,140 619,790 30,606 34,007 37,809 40,375 
			 South East London HA 472,742 499,162 568,346 605,915 31,198 33,037 37,494 39,654 
			 South West London HA 380,761 388,186 419,437 424,193 29,168 29,761 32,013 32,074 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear HA 345,136 382,487 395,566 377,803 24,746 27,441 28,412 27,067 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley HA 280,953 316,367 333,263 337,807 24,511 27,567 28,981 29,276 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 334,151 352,206 364,041 368,819 20,404 21,337 21,851 21,978 
			 West Yorkshire HA 682,502 693,594 682,662 672,156 32,592 32,975 32,220 31,384 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire HA 455,401 463,772 476,314 493,601 23,837 24,131 24,629 25,415 
			 Greater Manchester HA 835,341 872,133 891,915 942,652 33,174 34,501 35,205 37,064 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside HA 691,484 724,804 739,599 743,840 29,431 30,833 31,444 31,595 
			 Thames Valley HA 388,628 411,055 441,969 441,598 18,459 19,433 20,802 20,600 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 284,580 280,685 292,302 303,593 15,905 15,606 16,191 16,688 
			 Kent and Medway HA 348,210 364,667 381,477 337,381 21,904 22,783 23,651 20,764 
			 Surrey and Sussex HA 591,294 585,689 619,186 642,238 23,074 22,767 23,978 24,732 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA 463,443 502,901 526,092 533,569 21,230 22,878 23,743 23,829 
			 South West Peninsula HA 283,567 307,891 315,325 316,105 17,826 19,217 19,496 19,357 
			 Dorset and Somerset HA 207,990 230,925 216,882 224,147 17,337 19,170 17,946 18,455 
			 South Yorkshire HA 367,323 389,572 400,211 414,050 28,920 30,593 31,285 32,155 
			 Trent HA 492,666 500,782 527,973 541,243 18,579 18,736 19,580 19,934 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 231,337 239,112 257,124 268,756 14,736 15,121 16,122 16,669 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 279,512 289,741 299,524 302,595 18,721 19,328 19,904 20,043 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country HA 700,556 733,077 750,350 786,128 30,854 32,240 32,930 34,347 
			 West Midlands South HA 330,096 349,377 360,433 385,666 21,553 22,704 23,356 24,847 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07 
			  SHA name  Attendances  Attendances per 100,000 population 
			 England 13,602,589 26,796 
			 North East 721,903 28,247 
			 North West 2,209,351 32,238 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,475,482 28,693 
			 East Midlands 817,502 18,732 
			 West Midlands 1,507,532 28,091 
			 East of England 1,267,280 22,603 
			 London 2,843,438 37,850 
			 South East Coast 939,294 22,110 
			 South Central 732,387 18,358 
			 South West 1,088,420 21,241 
			  Notes: In Ql 2006-07, data were collected from the 28 SHAs which existed at the time, this data has been mapped to the new configurations.  Sources: Department of Health dataset QMAE Mid year population estimates for each year, 2001 Census Based: Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of young people under 16 who are regular binge drinkers.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Available evidence suggests (Schools Survey on Drinking, Smoking and Drug Use among young people) that the percentage of young people who drink alcohol is falling (from 27 per cent. in 1996 to 21 per cent. in 2006).
	Because there is no definition of binge drinking for under-18s, the Government do not make an estimate of how many under-16s regularly binge drink. We do know, from the Schools Survey, that around half of young people under 16 who had drunk alcohol in the last week consumed an average of more than four units on each day they drank. These findings, however, only relate to young people who drank alcohol in the last seven days. The majority of pupils did not drink any alcohol at all during that time.

Ambulance Services: Northamptonshire

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the revised plans for ambulance cover in Wellingborough and Northamptonshire.

Ben Bradshaw: It is for each ambulance service to plan the provision of appropriate resources to meet local demand. The East Midlands Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust is responsible for ambulance service provision in Wellingborough and Northamptonshire.

Botox

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plan to introduce regulation of the cosmetics industry with regard to botox injections.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have asked the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services to take the lead in setting up an industry-led self-regulatory scheme for botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. More details about this scheme will be given in due course.

Breast Feeding

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to promote the breastfeeding of infants; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department continues to support and promote breastfeeding and will be supporting the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week planned from 11 to 17 May 2008. The week will be supported with a range of promotional materials, funding a conference and working with the local national health service, voluntary organisations and practitioners to facilitate locally-run events.
	The Department is also exploring the introduction of a new metric on breastfeeding duration. Also ongoing activity includes television and radio advertising, an updated website, revised publications for parents and health professionals, and providing advice/support for pregnant women and new mothers through the Healthy Start programme.
	The Department is continuing to work with the Food Standards Agency on the implementation of the European Union directive on infant formula and follow-on formula regulations, including World Health Organisation best practice.

Central Middlesex Hospital

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of Professor Sir Ara Darzi's report on Central Middlesex Hospital.

Ann Keen: Lord Ara Darzi's report 'Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action' is intended to begin a dialogue about the future shape of health care services in London. The consultation on the models of care and delivery recommended in the report is due to begin formally in November 2007.

Central Middlesex Hospital

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the financial position of Central Middlesex Hospital.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held by individual hospitals, but by national health service trusts. Central Middlesex Hospital is managed by North West London Hospitals NHS Trust.
	At quarter 1, 2007 to 2008, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is forecasting a surplus of 6 million at the end of the 2007 to 2008 financial year.

Chronically Sick: Health Services

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing in full the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long-term Care.

Ivan Lewis: In England, the Government have accepted each of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on long term care except the recommendation that personal care should be provided free at the point of delivery to all in all settings. We estimate that the cost of implementing free personal care in England would be around 1.5 billion at 2003-04 prices.
	The Personal Social Services Research Unit has recently published Paying for Long-Term Care for Older People in the UK: Modelling the Costs and Distributional Effects of a Range of Options, which models a range of options for funding long-term care, including making personal care free to all in all settings.
	The report gives estimated public expenditure costs at 2002 prices of between 1.35 billion and 1.8 billion, depending on the way in which free personal care is implemented. This covers residential and home care for older people. It covers the whole of the United Kingdom. The England equivalent range would be about 1.2 billion to 1.6 billion. These estimates take account of limited offsetting savings of disability benefits.

Cirencester Hospital

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a decision on the independent sector provider contract for Cirencester Hospital.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is working with the national health service to review the specifications of schemes in Phase 2 of the central procurement process, including the proposed scheme for the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire area, to ensure that future schemes best meet the needs of the local NHS, and are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they will operate. This exercise is ongoing, and expected to be completed in October. Once this process is complete, and all parties involved in negotiations have been informed of the outcomes, further information will be made available.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.

Ann Keen: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health employ seven communications leads and one head of communications. Part of the role these officers perform includes dealing with the media.

Commission for Social Care Inspection: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Ivan Lewis: We understand from the Commission for Social Care Inspection that there are three press officers employed.

Congenital Abnormalities

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the effect on children's (i) brains and (ii) development of (A) prematurity, (B) foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and (C) fragile X syndrome.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service and through its Policy Research Programme supports a programme of research at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) on the health of pregnant women and their babies. This includes research relating to cerebral palsy and other early childhood impairment where prematurity is the single largest risk factor. With additional support from other funders, NPEU is also undertaking work which relates to neurodevelopmental follow-up of groups of children recruited to trials of specific interventions, where either all or the majority of the recruited children were preterm.
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy Best Research for Best Health has resulted in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. In particular, the major focus of the neonatal medicine research group at the Hammersmith and St. Mary's and Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre, formed this year, is the prevention and treatment of brain injury and developmental impairment in the newborn infant, both as a result of prematurity and birth asphyxia. The Department has allocated 7 million over five years to the research theme of which the Centre's work forms a part.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In 2005-06, MRC expenditure on research related to premature birth amounted to 4 million. In addition, the MRC supports a large portfolio of reproductive tract research and underpinning reproductive medicine and paediatric research.
	More specifically, the MRC is currently funding a research project on Fragile X syndrome that aims to provide fundamental insights into the cellular mechanisms through which cognitive symptoms of the syndrome arise and that may be important for discovery of new therapies for mental retardation.

Dental Services

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many dentists have failed to meet their target number of units of dental activity since the new NHS dental contract was introduced in 2005, broken down by primary care trust;
	(2)  how many dentists  (a) completed their annual units of dental activity (UDA) early,  (b) requested further UDAs and  (c) requested but were refused further UDAs in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by primary care trust.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the form requested.
	Information on the total units of dental activity delivered in 2006-07 at England, strategic health authority and primary care trust (PCT) level is contained in NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006. This report is available in the Library.
	Information is not held centrally on the number of contractors who completed their annual contracted level of activity before the end of March 2007 or on the number of requests to PCTs to deliver additional activity during 2006-07.
	The Dental Services Division (DSD) of the National Health Service Business Services Authority holds data on dental activity provided under NHS dental contracts, together with information provided by PCTs on the levels of activity commissioned for each contract. However, these data are not routinely published. The DSD is currently considering a freedom of information request for a comparison of the two data items for 2006-07. Depending on the outcome, some contract level information of this kind may be available from the DSD later this autumn.

Dental Services: Bolton

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there are in Bolton; and how many of these are taking on new patients.

Ann Keen: As of 31 March 2007 there were 110 dentists on open national health service contracts in the Bolton primary care trust area. The number of dentists taking on new NHS patients is not collected centrally.
	 Source:
	NHS Dental Statistics 2006-07, The Information Centre for health and social care, August 2007.

Dental Services: Bolton

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the availability of NHS dentists in Bolton.

Ann Keen: There have been six parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend the Members for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) and for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon) on dental services in Bolton. In addition, there have been a small number of letters from members of the public.

Departments: Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what accounts directions were issued by his Department in financial year  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07.

Ben Bradshaw: The following lists show the accounts directions issued to bodies for which the Department has responsibility.
	 Issued in 2005-06:
	Information Centre for health and social care
	Mental Health Act Commission
	NHS Appointments Commission
	NHS Business Services Authority
	NHS Blood and Transplant
	NHS Direct
	NHS Professionals
	National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
	National Institute for Improvement and Innovation
	National Patient Safety Authority
	National Treatment Agency
	NHS Litigation Authority
	Dental Practice Board
	Dental Vocational Training Authority
	National Blood Authority
	NHS Logistics
	NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
	NHS Pensions Agency
	Prescription Pricing Authority.
	UK Transplant
	Strategic Health Authorities
	 Issued in 2006-07:
	Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
	Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
	Commission for Social Care Inspection
	General Social Care Council
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
	Health Protection Agency
	Health and Social Care Information Centre
	Mental Health Act Commission
	National Biological Standards Board
	NHS Appointments Commission
	NHS Business Services Authority
	NHS Blood and Transplant
	NHS Direct
	NHS Professionals
	National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
	National Institute for Improvement and Innovation
	National Patient Safety Authority
	National Treatment Agency
	Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
	NHS Litigation Authority.

Departments: Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private consultancy firms  (a) his Department and  (b) agencies which report to his Department engaged in each of the last three years; which programmes or projects each firm worked on; and what the approximate cost to the Department or agency concerned was of each engagement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information on projects awarded to private consultancy firms by the Department and its agencies in the format requested. To do so would attract disproportionate cost.
	A new system will be introduced in April 2008 called SHOWA, which will be able to gather such information for the Department.

Departments: Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies his Department has adopted to assist in the United Kingdom's fulfilment of the Lisbon Agenda criteria.

Dawn Primarolo: A healthy population is a key driver to achieving economic growth. This is at the core of the Department's policies to improve and modernise health services and to prevent illness and morbidity through activities such as health promotion.
	A key part of this will be to reduce health inequalities in the United Kingdom. The Department is working to a public service agreement target to reduce inequalities in health outcomes by 10 per cent. by 2010.

Departments: Pay

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1552W, on Departments: pay, 
	(1)  how many  (a) civil servants are on each payscale and  (b) consultants are on each banding within the Department's Commercial Directorate;
	(2)  whether the commercial directorate contractor bandings refer to  (a) per hour,  (b) per day,  (c) per week,  (d) per month or  (e) per annum.

Dawn Primarolo: The Commercial Directorate contracts interims for a specified piece of work or time period. The bandings are an internal control tool created by and used solely by the Commercial Directorate and refer to day rates. The number of interims (headcount) by bandings in the Commercial Directorate at 1 October 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Band 1 6 
			 Band 2 17 
			 Band 3 67 
			 Band 4 68 
			 Band 5 24 
			 Total 182 
		
	
	The number of civil servants (full-time equivalent) in the Commercial Directorate at 1 October 2007 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number 
			 SCS3 1 
			 SCS1 1 
			 Grade 6 1 
			 Grade 7 2 
			 SEO 1.7 
			 EO 1 
			 Total 7.7

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value is of the unitary payments of each private finance initiative scheme overseen by his Department over the lifetime of the contract, expressed in constant 2007-08 prices, and discounted to present value.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The following table gives details of private finance initiative schemes which have reached financial close including capital value, unitary payments at 2007-08 prices, and the total value of these discounted to present value.
	
		
			  Unitary charge payments under PFI contracts at 2007-08 prices 
			   million 
			  NHS Trust/PCT  Total capital value  Total unitary payments in 2007-08 prices  Discounted present value of UPs 
			 Dartford and Gravesham Hospital NHS Trust 94 525.9 358.86 
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 67 481.1 300.96 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 45 370.0 231.46 
			 Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust 158 1,357.4 849.13 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 61 429.9 268.94 
			 University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust 67 752.2 457.59 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 96 670.4 419.34 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 65 598.3 374.26 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 118 429.9 268.94 
			 Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup NHS Trust 15 66.3 41.49 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 54 491.0 307.13 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 87 743.8 465.28 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 64 379.6 237.44 
			 Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 17 96.1 60.11 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 48 294.3 184.08 
			 Sussex Partnership NHS Trust 22 126.8 79.34 
			 South Tees Acute Hospital NHS Trust 122 895.5 560.17 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 100 540.1 357.85 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 76 583.1 364.73 
			 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 28 125.0 78.17 
			 Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 47 289.7 181.23 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 46 248.5 155.44 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust 11 48.7 30.48 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust 422 1,312.0 809.26 
			 North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 11 41.4 25.91 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 18 202.5 126.70 
			 East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust 15 50.5 31.59 
			 Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust 10 86.4 54.08 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 18 59.8 37.41 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 15 40.7 25.47 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 22 68.4 42.81 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 60 373.1 226.98 
			 Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 55 126.8 79.33 
			 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust 137 577.6 361.32 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 30 143.9 90.03 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 15 64.8 40.56 
			 Surrey PCT 29 102.7 64.22 
			 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 13 103.7 64.85 
			 Nuffield Orthopaedic NHS Trust 37 138.5 86.62 
			 Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 32 111.4 68.70 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 10 71.4 44.05 
			 Devon PCT 10 49.9 30.79 
			 West Berkshire PCT 19 109.1 67.31 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 14 57.7 35.61 
			 The Whittington NHS Trust 32 113.5 72.00 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 379 1,989.9 1,162.07 
			 Brent PCT 21 92.4 57.80 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust 26 102.7 64.26 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust 16 25.4 15.68 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 110 311.8 182.10 
			 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 12 57.0 35.64 
			 Derby Hospitals NHS Trust 312 1,287.2 741.77 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 30 99.6 62.29 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 69 224.0 140.13 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 134 553.0 345.92 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust 238 499.3 287.73 
			 Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 52 356.0 222.72 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 265 647.2 388.34 
			 Avon and Western Wiltshire MH NHS Trust 83 198.9 124.41 
			 Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust 24 78.7 49.23 
			 Kirklees PCT 25 67.2 42.06 
			 Wandsworth PCT 75 324.1 202.74 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust 31 158.9 99.38 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 47 318.1 198.96 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust 36 127.0 79.45 
			 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 51 184.7 113.95 
			 Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 76 190.5 120.90 
			 Hampshire PCT 36 137.9 87.53 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 28 244.7 153.05 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 30 76.7 48.69 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 420 1,824.8 1,051.56 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 19 67.3 42.72 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 28 63.9 40.55 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals 299 861.9 510.14 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 296 1,043.8 634.34 
			 Northgate and PrudhoeNeuro Disability Centre 24 44.6 28.29 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 129 475.4 297.39 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 193 1,001.0 617.45 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 67 128.7 80.48 
			 Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 36 89.9 56.24 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust 1,000 2,909.4 1,722.06 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 338 1,071.1 625.54 
			 University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust 697 1,426.8 833.22 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 30 98.7 61.72 
			 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 21 79.7 49.84 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 29 70.1 43.82 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 375 1,116.0 698.14 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 353 778.5 486.98 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 336 813.8 495.01 
			 North Middlesex Hospitals NHS Trust 144 640.9 379.36 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 190 401.2 240.72 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 112 285.5 171.28 
			 Total 9,870.74 38,195.40 23,311.63

Departments: Public Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1553W, on departments: public expenditure, what items of specific guidance have been given to  (a) the Finance Directorate and  (b) his Department generally on the Comprehensive Spending Review process.

Ben Bradshaw: In preparation for the Comprehensive Spending Review, HM Treasury has worked closely with the Department and with all Government Departments, providing guidance throughout the process.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when Ministers of his Department expect next to meet representatives of Consumers for Health to discuss the implementation of the food supplements directive;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Working Group meeting of EU member states held on 24 September to discuss the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements and fortified foods;
	(3)  whether officials of  (a) his Department and  (b) the Food Standards Agency have made representations to the European Commission on the extent of the circulation of the Commission's recent orientation paper on the setting of nutrient levels for food supplements and fortified foods; and if he will make it his policy to encourage the Commission to improve the openness and transparency of its activity on the implementation of the food supplements directive;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on the anticipated timetable for the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements;
	(5)  what legal principles informed the contribution of the Food Standards Agency to discussions with the European Commission on the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what recent contacts there have been between officials of the Food Standards Agency and their counterparts in  (a) the Republic of Ireland and  (b) other European member states to discuss the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The meeting of the Working Group on 24 September was to obtain member states' initial views on an orientation paper on setting maximum and minimum levels for vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs, issued by the Commission in late July. We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that general discussions on the orientation paper in the working group revealed that many member states are yet to establish views on many issues. The Commission has asked member states to consider the various issues presented in the orientation paper in preparation for more detailed discussions at the next working group meeting which has provisionally been scheduled for November.
	FSA officials have raised the issue of circulation of the orientation paper with the European Commission. The Commission recognised that member states have obligations to consult their stakeholders and did not place restrictions on the circulation of the paper, leaving this to the discretion of the member states. The FSA sent the paper to United Kingdom stakeholders on 8 August seeking their initial comments and held a meeting on 14 September during which the paper was discussed in detail. Further meetings between the FSA and Ministers will be arranged when necessary.
	The European Commission has indicated its intention to produce proposals in the form of draft amending legislation to go forward to the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) for consideration in early 2009.
	Recent discussions between FSA officials and the European Commission focussed on the Commission's orientation paper, and have not extended to detailed discussions of legal principles. The legal basis for setting levels of vitamins and minerals in foodstuffs that informs the FSA's contribution to discussions with the Commission is outlined in the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC and the Regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods EC No 1925/2006.
	FSA officials met with their counterparts from the Republic of Ireland and other member states during, and in the margins of, the European Commission's working group meeting with member states on 24 September, on the setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

Disposable Syringes

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Vendafit needle dispensing machine in the context of managing the condition of drug dependent patients.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has made no assessment.

Doctors: Career Structure

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the findings of Sir John Tooke's independent review of the Modernising Medical Careers programme; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department would like to thank Sir John Tooke and his review group for investing so much time and expertise in providing recommendations for the future of medical training for 2009 and beyond. We will consider Sir John's findings carefully.

Drugs: Internet

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions there are on the bringing into the UK of non-prescription medical drugs purchased by individuals on the internet; whether the Government have any plans  (a) to tighten these restrictions and  (b) to impose the enforcement of existing restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994, it is unlawful for medicinal products for human use to be marketed, manufactured, imported from a third country, distributed and sold or supplied in the United Kingdom except in accordance with the appropriate licences or exemptions.
	Medicinal products for human use that are brought into the UK by an individual for his or her own use or that of a member of his/her family, including those purchased via the internet or by mail order, are not regarded as being imported for sale or supply within the UK and accordingly are not subject to the controls of the Marketing Authorisation Regulations. Any onward sale or supply, however, would place the product on the market and bring it within the regulatory system designed to protect public health and safety. There are no plans at this time to change the legislation.

Epilepsy

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of stigma experienced by people with epilepsy;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's guidance on the treatment of prisoners diagnosed with epilepsy;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of information provided to patients upon diagnosis of epilepsy on the risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.

Ann Keen: The Department is working to reduce the level of stigma experienced by those with epilepsy by raising awareness of this condition among the public. Information on epilepsy is made available on the NHS Direct website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk as well as the Epilepsy Information Network.
	We commissioned the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce clinical guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy. This guidance, published in October 2004, specifically covers the importance of informing patients and their families of the risks of sudden death in epilepsy. In addition, we have made a grant of almost 290,000 to the National Society for Epilepsy to improve support and information for people with epilepsy and their families through their Epilepsy Information Network.
	We have made no assessment of the implementation of the guidance produced by NICE on the treatment of prisoners diagnosed with epilepsy.

Epilepsy: Learning Disability

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence epilepsy clinical guidance on the treatment of people with epilepsy with learning disabilities.

Ann Keen: We have made no assessment of the effects of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's epilepsy guidance on the treatment of those with learning disabilities.

Epilepsy: Nurses

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist epilepsy nurses there are; and what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of their work.

Ben Bradshaw: The annual workforce census does not separately identify specialist epilepsy nurses from the rest of the nursing workforce.
	Since 1997, there has been an increase of almost 80,000 qualified nurses employed in the national health service in England, and the number of training places for nurses and midwives has risen by 51 per cent. This will increase the pool of nurses from which nurses specialising in epilepsy can be drawn.
	No assessment has been carried out centrally. It is for local trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly, this includes provision of specialist nursing posts.

Epilepsy: Video Games

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many photosensitive epileptic seizures caused by electronic games were recorded in  (a) England and  (b) the South West in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of epileptic seizures caused by electronic games is not collected.

EU Countries

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what official visits he is planning to European Union member states in the next six months.

Dawn Primarolo: The Secretary of State is planning to visit Brussels for political and policy meetings at the end of November 2007.
	I have the following visits scheduled on behalf of the Secretary of State:
	
		
			   Scheduled visits 
			 14-15 October 2007 Meeting other European Union Health Ministers in Rome 
			 14-15 November 2007 Media Global Health Committee Trade Event, Dusseldorf 
			 6 December 2007 European Union Health Council, Brussels

Eyesight: Testing

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the introduction of charges for  (a) eye tests and  (b) dental check-ups on demand for these services; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: There is no system of national health service charges for sight tests. Certain groups including children, people aged over 60, those on a low income and those predisposed to eye disease are eligible for NHS funded sight tests. Those not eligible for NHS funded sight tests have to pay privately.
	In 1999 we reintroduced free sight tests for everyone aged 60 and over. This resulted in a switch from private to NHS sight tests, rather than any material increase in the overall number of sights tests. This suggested that the cost of a sight test is not a disincentive for individuals.
	This Government have not introduced charges for dental examinations. NHS charges for dental examinations have been in place since 1989 for those patients who are not exempt on income or other grounds. In April 2006 the system of charges was simplified as part of the wider reforms to NHS dentistry. Under the reforms, dental examinations are no longer charged as a separate item of service but as part of a course of treatment. A basic course of treatment (band 1) costs 15.90 and includes examination, diagnosis (including x-rays if needed), preventative advice and, if clinically indicated, a scale and polish.

Fibromyalgia

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned on fibromyalgia over the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 962W.

Food Standards Agency: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Food Standards Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency currently employs eight press officers.

General Practitioners

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of patients visiting their general practitioner were subsequently referred on in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of patients in each primary care trust area who visited their general practitioner were referred on in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the total number patients who visit their general practitioner is not routinely collected.
	For the period 2006-07, the total number of commissioner based general practitioner referrals to first consultant outpatient appointment was 9,226,012. The following table provides a breakdown of this figure by primary care trust for the same period.
	
		
			  General practitioner (GP) written referrals made for first out - patient appointment, all specialties, England, 2006-07 commissioner based 
			  Strategic health authority  Code  Name of primary care trust (PCT)  GP referrals made 
			 Q39 5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 36,975 
			 Q36 5A4 Havering PCT 35,317 
			 Q36 5A5 Kingston PCT 27,871 
			 Q36 5A7 Bromley PCT 65,999 
			 Q36 5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT 41,653 
			 Q36 5A9 Barnet PCT 72,221 
			 Q32 5AN North East Lincolnshire PCT 27,077 
			 Q36 5AT Hillingdon PCT 45,300 
			 Q36 5C1 Enfield PCT 48,872 
			 Q36 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT . 26,629 
			 Q36 5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 49,144 
			 Q36 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 38,422 
			 Q36 5C5 Newham PCT 60,006 
			 Q36 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 49,227 
			 Q31 5CC Blackburn with Darwen PCT 26,080 
			 Q34 5CN Herefordshire PCT 33,859 
			 Q38 5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 26,060 
			 Q30 5D7 Newcastle PCT 52,579 
			 Q30 5D8 North Tyneside PCT 41,959 
			 Q30 5D9 Hartlepool PCT 16,236 
			 Q30 5E1 North Tees PCT 33,113 
			 Q32 5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 29,572 
			 Q33 5EM Nottingham City PCT 55,153 
			 Q33 5ET Bassetlaw PCT 24,165 
			 Q39 5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 45,927 
			 Q31 5F5 Salford PCT 52,528 
			 Q31 5F7 Stockport PCT 57,022 
			 Q38 5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 35,770 
			 Q39 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 33,498 
			 Q35 5GC Luton PCT 36,011 
			 Q36 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 26,148 
			 Q32 5H8 Rotherham PCT 48,355 
			 Q31 5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 65,302 
			 Q31 5HP Blackpool PCT 27,441 
			 Q31 5HQ Bolton PCT 54,102 
			 Q36 5HX Ealing PCT 69,048 
			 Q36 5HY Hounslow PCT 48,671 
			 Q31 5J2 Warrington PCT 26,926 
			 Q31 5J4 Knowsley PCT 35,796 
			 Q31 5J5 Oldham PCT 45,361 
			 Q32 5J6 Calderdale PCT 36,758 
			 Q30 5J9 Darlington PCT 16,497 
			 Q32 5JE Barnsley PCT 52,149 
			 Q31 5JX Bury PCT 38,374 
			 Q39 5K3 Swindon PCT 34,892 
			 Q36 5K5 Brent Teaching PCT 52,457 
			 Q36 5K6 Harrow PCT 32,809 
			 Q36 5K7 Camden PCT 46,363 
			 Q36 5K8 Islington PCT 40,998 
			 Q36 5K9 Croydon PCT 54,327 
			 Q30 5KF Gateshead PCT 46,639 
			 Q30 5KG South Tyneside PCT 35,630 
			 Q30 5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 51,798 
			 Q30 5KM Middlesbrough PCT 23,669 
			 Q38 5L1 Southampton City PCT 35,156 
			 Q37 5L3 Medway PCT 51,360 
			 Q36 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 28,869 
			 Q36 5LC Westminster PCT 40,881 
			 Q36 5LD Lambeth PCT 49,047 
			 Q36 5LE Southwark PCT 38,280 
			 Q36 5LF Lewisham PCT 45,483 
			 Q36 5LG Wandsworth PCT 68,075 
			 Q31 5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 46,789 
			 Q37 5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 54,436 
			 Q34 5M1 South Birmingham PCT 81,166 
			 Q34 5M2 Shropshire County PCT 33,843 
			 Q34 5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 51,741 
			 Q36 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 33,301 
			 Q36 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 70,419 
			 Q39 5M8 North Somerset PCT 36,539 
			 Q34 5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 61,134 
			 Q34 5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 16,325 
			 Q34 5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 50,374 
			 Q34 5MX Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 58,481 
			 Q32 5N1 Leeds PCT 107,676 
			 Q32 5N2 Kirklees PCT 65,532 
			 Q32 5N3 Wakefield District PCT 57,542 
			 Q32 5N4 Sheffield PCT 110,575 
			 Q32 5N5 Doncaster PCT 60,155 
			 Q33 5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 132,350 
			 Q33 5N7 Derby City PCT 48,874 
			 Q33 5N8 Nottinghamshire County PCT 123,061 
			 Q33 5N9 Lincolnshire PCT 131,388 
			 Q36 5NA Redbridge PCT 38,389 
			 Q36 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 31,613 
			 Q30 5ND County Durham PCT 90,731 
			 Q31 5NE Cumbria PCT 102,845 
			 Q31 5NF North Lancashire PCT 61,355 
			 Q31 5NG Central Lancashire PCT 90,878 
			 Q31 5NH East Lancashire PCT 69,026 
			 Q31 5NJ Sefton PCT 63,085 
			 Q31 5NK Wirral PCT 59,252 
			 Q31 5NL Liverpool PCT 110,086 
			 Q31 5NM Halton and St. Helens PCT 61,783 
			 Q31 5NN Western Cheshire PCT 48,754 
			 Q31 5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 77,230 
			 Q31 5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 43,684 
			 Q31 5NR Trafford PCT 56,929 
			 Q31 5NT Manchester PCT 112,803 
			 Q32 5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 131,884 
			 Q32 5NW East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 58,967 
			 Q32 5NX Hull PCT 55,605 
			 Q32 5NY Bradford and Airedale PCT 68,094 
			 Q35 5P1 South East Essex PCT 83,451 
			 Q35 5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 73,534 
			 Q35 5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 89,652 
			 Q35 5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 72,171 
			 Q37 5P5 Surrey PCT 163,219 
			 Q37 5P6 West Sussex PCT 128,310 
			 Q37 5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 65,024 
			 Q37 5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 35,862 
			 Q37 5P9 West Kent PCT 103,842 
			 Q33 5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 109,605 
			 Q33 5PC Leicester City PCT 56,441 
			 Q33 5PD Northamptonshire PCT 88,184 
			 Q34 5PE Dudley PCT 48,603 
			 Q34 5PF Sandwell PCT 66,326 
			 Q34 5PG Birmingham East and North PCT 78,531 
			 Q34 5PH North Staffordshire PCT 33,356 
			 Q34 5PJ Stoke on Trent PCT 40,102 
			 Q34 5PK South Staffordshire PCT 119,351 
			 Q34 5PL Worcestershire PCT 109,586 
			 Q34 5PM Warwickshire PCT 96,158 
			 Q35 5PN Peterborough PCT 28,000 
			 Q35 5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 88,249 
			 Q35 5PQ Norfolk PCT 111,909 
			 Q35 5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 47,476 
			 Q35 5PT Suffolk PCT 96,693 
			 Q35 5PV West Essex PCT 48,706 
			 Q35 5PW North East Essex PCT 55,867 
			 Q35 5PX Mid Essex PCT 56,897 
			 Q35 5PY South West Essex PCT 63,812 
			 Q37 5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 118,942 
			 Q38 5QC Hampshire PCT 203,425 
			 Q38 5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 79,799 
			 Q38 5QE Oxfordshire PCT 76,039 
			 Q38 5QF Berkshire West PCT 63,066 
			 Q38 5QG Berkshire East PCT 52,389 
			 Q39 5QH Gloucestershire PCT 85,664 
			 Q39 5QJ Bristol PCT 69,580 
			 Q39 5QK Wiltshire PCT 83,775 
			 Q39 5QL Somerset PCT 87,607 
			 Q39 5QM Dorset PCT 83,368 
			 Q39 5QN Bournemouth and Poole PCT 63,186 
			 Q39 5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 101,449 
			 Q39 5QQ Devon PCT 134,859 
			 Q30 5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT 21,960 
			 Q38 5QT Isle of Wight NHS Pet 27,805 
			 Q30 TAC Northumberland Care Trust 59,166 
			 Q36 TAK Bexley Care Trust 30,438 
			 Q39 TAL Torbay Care Trust 25,034 
			 Q34 TAM Solihull Care Trust 42,944 
			   England 9,226,012 
			  Source: Department of Health monthly monitoring return

General Practitioners

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England are not registered with a GP surgery.

Ben Bradshaw: These data are not collected centrally by the Department.

General Practitioners: Rents

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will revise the cost rent system used to reimburse GP practices accommodation costs to ensure that facilities are not reimbursed by a number of different agencies at the same time in cases of subletting space in GP surgeries.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Health Service (General Medical ServicesPremises Costs) (England) Directions 2004 set out the arrangements for primary care trusts to make payments in respect of general practitioner (GP) premises' costs. Direction 48 provides for those payments to be offset by any rents GPs receive from third parties for areas of premises they occupy. There is therefore no need for a revision.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of GP practices hold  (a) evening and  (b) weekend surgeries.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. However, the Department's quarterly Access to Primary Care Survey shows that over the last year an average of 5.5 per cent. of patients were offered an evening appointment and an average of 1.25 per cent. of patients were offered an appointment at the weekend by their general practitioner surgeries.

Gorlin Syndrome

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the standard of care provided to patients with Gorlin Syndrome; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the level of implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on improving outcomes for people with skin tumours;
	(3)  what representations his Department has received on patients with Gorlin Syndrome being unable to access treatment on the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department has received a very small number of representations about access to treatment on the national health service for Gorlin's Syndrome patients. No assessment has been made of the standard of care provided to patients with this syndrome.
	However, in February 2006 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued guidance on Improving Outcomes for People with Skin Tumours including Melanoma.
	This guidance highlights a number of genetic conditions, including Gorlin's Syndrome, which predispose a person to the development of skin cancer in later life and sets out recommendations for the management of people with this condition.
	Specialised commissioning groups(1) have been asked to produce implementation summaries setting out how they would implement this guidance over the next three years. These plans have been submitted to the National Cancer Action Team and are being checked for compliance against the guidance.
	(1) Specialised services, defined as those services provided in relatively few specialist centres to catchment populations of more than 1 million people, are either commissioned regionally by specialised commissioning groups (SCGs) or nationally by the National Commissioning Group (NCG) depending on the rarity of the condition or treatment. 10 new SCGs were established on 1 April 2007 to commission services on a regional basis, coterminous with the 10 strategic health authorities. (This succeeds a two tier arrangement of regional (eight SCGs) and local (25 local SCGs) commissioning groups.) Services commissioned at SCG level include haemophilia, blood and marrow transplantation, secure forensic mental health, spinal cord injuries, etc.

Health Protection Agency: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Health Protection Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: There are 21.5 press officers employed by the Health Protection Agency. This includes:
	nine regional communications managers (one per region) and three regional press officers (based in the London, eastern and west midlands regions);
	five press officers based at the Centre for Infections, Colindale;
	3.5 press officers based at the Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and the Environment, Chilton; and
	one Head of Strategic Communications Planning: Emergency Preparedness and Response based at the Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Porton.

Health Services: Bedfordshire

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sampling techniques were used in compiling statistical information on the health needs of Bedfordshire and Luton when allocating funds for  (a) Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust and  (b) Luton Primary Care Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Funding is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine PCTs' target shares of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
	The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) oversees the development of the weighted-capitation formula. ACRA is an independent body which has national health service management, general practitioner, and academic members. It commissions research to measure the health needs of PCTs.
	The health need element of the formula, which informs the revenue allocations to PCTs in 2006-07 and 2007-08, was based upon research carried out by the allocation of resources to English areas (AREA) research team in 2001-02 and by Warwick university. The AREA research modelled need for all areas in England, and as a result a national formula was developed. A detailed description of the research techniques and the formula are published on the Department's website(1, 2) at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/allocations
	Generally, the data used in this research were based on full population datasets (for example, the National Census). Statistical sampling was not required in those cases. The significant exception was the Health Survey for England (HSE). HSE data for 1994-2000 inclusive were used and this provided a national sample size of 122,488. More details of the techniques used are provided in the document listed at point 2 as follows.
	(1) Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formula: Fifth edition (Department of Health).
	(2) Allocation of Resources to English Areas; Individual and small area determinants of morbidity and use of healthcare resources (Sutton M, Gravelle H, Morris S, Leyland A, Windmeijer F, Dibben C, Muirhead M) Report to the Department of Health. Edinburgh: Information and Statistics Division, 2002.

Health Services: East Midlands

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what contact his Department has had with  (a) the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA),  (b) primary care trusts within the East Midlands SHA area,  (c) NHS hospital trusts, foundation trusts and mental health trusts within the East Midlands SHA area and  (d) right hon. and hon. Members on the effects of immigration into the region, NHS services and budgets; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what contact his Department has had with  (a) the East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA),  (b) primary care trusts within the East of England SHA area,  (c) NHS hospital trusts, foundation trusts and mental health trusts within the SHA area and  (d) right hon. and hon. Members on the effects of immigration into the region on NHS services and budgets; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Ministers have regular meetings with hon. Members and other stakeholders about health services in England. There is also a regular flow of correspondence from across the country including the East of England and East Midlands areas.
	The Department is supporting local national health service organisations engage within regional strategic migration partnerships which provide a single multi-sector, multi agency forum to consider the impacts of migration as they affect regional areas. Funding of 20,000 is available in both 2007-08 and 2008-09 to help with co-ordination arrangements.
	Discussions are shortly to start with the East Midlands Government Office and the Local Government East Midlands about this. Also, this work is being taken forward in partnership with the East of England Regional Assembly, the East of England Government Office and Suffolk primary care trust.

Healthcare Commission: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Healthcare Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: We understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that at present the Healthcare Commission currently employs three full-time press officers and one full-time media relations manager, all who are based at the Healthcare Commissions head office at Finsbury Tower, London.

Hearing Impaired: Tunbridge Wells

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent average waiting time is for  (a) audiology appointments and  (b) the issue of a digital hearing aid in Tunbridge Wells constituency.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally in the format requested.
	However, the following data show waiting times for audiological assessments in West Kent primary care trust and nationally as at July 2007 and published on 12 September 2007.
	 West Kent Primary Care Trust
	Total waiting for an audiological assessment: 1,765 with 1,060 waiting over 13 weeks.
	 National
	Total waiting for an audiological assessment: 116,915 with 63,161 waiting over 13 weeks.

Heart Diseases: Medical Treatments

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's preliminary recommendation of 7 August 2007 on percutaneous coronary intervention; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is reviewing its October 2003 guidance on the use of drug-eluting stents for the treatment of coronary artery disease. NICE is currently considering the responses it has received from stakeholders during the recent consultation on its draft recommendations. As NICE has not yet issued final guidance it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.
	NICE expects to publish final guidance in March 2008.

Hepatitis: Drugs

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total annual cost was of drug treatments for hepatitis C in 2005-06.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended three drugs used for the treatment of hepatitis C: pegylated interferons, interferon alfa and oral ribavirin. The estimated costs of these drugs dispensed in hospitals and in the community in the financial year 2005-06 was 24.4 million.
	Pegylated interferon alfa-2a may also be used to treat chronic hepatitis B. Interferon alfa-2a and 2b may also be used to treat chronic hepatitis B and some malignant diseases, such as certain forms of leukaemia. It is not possible to identify these costs separately.
	 Notes:
	1. These data have been collated by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care.
	2. The source of data on hospital prescribing is  IMS HEALTH: Hospital Pharmacy Audit. The cost of the medicines is estimated at NHS list price and not necessarily the price that the hospital paid.
	3. Data on community prescribing are taken from the Prescription Cost Analysis system, supplied by the Prescription Pricing Division of the Business Services Authority. Estimated costs are based on Net Ingredient Cost (NIC). NIC is the basic cost of a drug. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

Hospitals

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what district general hospitals there are in England;
	(2)  which hospitals are located in each parliamentary constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no current nationally agreed definition of what constitutes a district general hospital, although the term is in common use and is generally employed to describe large hospitals which are not teaching hospitals.
	Information identifying individual hospital sites by parliamentary constituency is not collected centrally. However, a series of fact sheets on the Department's website does identify the headquarters' address of each national health service trust in this manner. The information is available at:
	www.info.doh.gov.uk/nhsfactsheets.nsf
	NHS organisations will decide locally what constitutes the best configuration of healthcare services for their populations. In some localities, services may be provided in large centralised hospitals, while others may offer the same services in the community.

Hospitals: Cleaning Services

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of wards in acute hospitals in England which will need to be temporarily closed to be deep cleaned.

Ann Keen: The delivery of any deep-clean process is entirely a matter for local determination and will be affected by a range of local factors and considerations. It is not therefore possible to provide any estimate of the number of ward closures which may be required. However, we would expect all trusts to organise this programme in such a way that it minimises impact on service delivery and inconvenience to patients.

Hospitals: Food

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the proportion of hospital food wasted in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected in the format requested. The latest figures (for England) on food waste in the form of untouched meals are as set out as follows:
	
		
			   2005-06 
			 Total number of untouched/unserved patient meals 13,053,065 
			 Average percentage of untouched/unserved patient meals 9.42 
		
	
	Since 2004-05, the data provided have not been collected on a mandatory basis and therefore will not be complete.

Hospitals: Ministers of Religion

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18th July 2007,  Official Report, column 456W, on Hospitals: Ministers of religion, what guidance he has issued on the responsibilities of NHS trusts to provide for the spiritual care of patients; and when budgetary control was devolved to NHS trusts in relation to these matters.

Ann Keen: The Department issued guidance to national health service trusts in November 2003. Meeting the Religious and Spiritual Needs of Patients and Staff sets out a framework for the context and provision of chaplaincy and spiritual care services throughout the NHS that meet the needs of today's multi-cultural and spiritually diverse society.
	NHS organisations have always been responsible for the provision of chaplaincy and spiritual care services. Funding for this is built into financial allocations to primary care trust, who commission hospital services on behalf of patients. Shifting the Balance of Power, published in 2002, empowered NHS trusts to give front line staff more say in how resources are allocated and services are delivered locally.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Dawn Primarolo: I am informed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that, as of 28 August 2007, two people are employed to work full-time with the media, of which one has the job title of press officer.

Hyperactivity

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clinical guidelines being developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will take account of the possibility that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is caused by  (a) dietary and  (b) environmental factors.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is producing a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, young people and adults. The guideline will provide recommendations for good practice based on the latest available evidence and will be developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders. The published scope of the guideline includes consideration of dietary elimination and supplementation, and makes reference to environmental risk factors. The full scope for this guideline is available on the NICE website at:
	guidance.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=351276
	NICE expects to publish final guidance in July 2008.

Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: We are informed by the Chairman of Monitor, whose statutory name is the independent regulator of national health service foundation trusts, that Monitor employs two external relations officers, part of whose responsibilities include media handling.

Influenza: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 982-3W, on Influenza: Vaccination, what form the ongoing programme of public engagement will take; whether criteria determining the priority in which different groups of people are offered  (a) vaccines,  (b) antivirals and  (c) other clinical interventions will be subjected to formal consultation; how often he expects these criteria to be reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Work continues on the design of a public engagement programme in accordance with the timetable set out in the previous written answer.
	Between March and May 2007 the Government consulted on the draft 'Ethical framework for the response to pandemic influenza', which provides an ethical framework for policy and planning decisions relating to pandemic influenza, including the prioritisation of clinical countermeasures. The final version of this document will be published with the final 'National Framework for responding to an influenza pandemic' in the autumn. While the ethical principles underlying issues such as prioritisation can be considered in advance, their implications would have to be reviewed in light of emerging scientific developments and/or other information available at the time of a pandemic.

Influenza: Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of seasonal flu vaccines for the winter 2007-08 flu immunisation programme; what discussions he has had with flu vaccine manufacturers on their capacity to supply adequate stocks of vaccine; which manufacturers are supplying vaccine to the UK; what information he has received about flu vaccine manufacturers encountering difficulties in  (a) manufacturing and  (b) delivering vaccines; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department meets with representatives from UK Vaccine Industry Group (UVIG) each year to discuss flu vaccine requirements for the United Kingdom. On 24 July 2007, Professor David Salisbury, Director of Immunisation, wrote to the profession saying that over 15 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine would be available for distribution in the UK.
	Suppliers of flu vaccine to the UK for 2007-08 are Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Novartis Vaccines, GlaxoSmithKline, MASTA, Solvay and Wyeth vaccines.
	The profession were alerted to the minor delays in distribution of vaccine from GSK and Novartis in the August and September edition of Vaccine Update respectively. Supply of flu vaccine to surgeries has already commenced.

Information Officers

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many press officers are employed by the National Clinical Assessment Service;
	(2)  how many press officers are employed by the National Patient Safety Agency.

Ann Keen: The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is a special health authority that was established in July 2001 to undertake various patient safety functions.
	Since 1 April 2005, following the Department's Review of Arms Length Bodies, the Agency has also taken on additional responsibilities including those for the National Clinical Assessment Service (formerly the National Clinical Assessment Authority).
	As at April 2007, two full-time press officers are employed by the NPSA to provide support across all the areas of its responsibility.

Intensive Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by trust.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the number of critical care beds was not collected before March 1999. The biannual adult critical care provision census started in March 1999 with the latest census in July 2007. The data from each census have been placed in the Library. National health service trust mergers have taken place between 1999 and 2007 but each census covers organisations current at the time.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency employs two press officers.

Members: Correspondence

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the letter to the Minister of State (Delivery and Quality) dated 21 May from the hon. Member for Hyndburn on Mrs. J. Hogan.

Dawn Primarolo: The reply was sent on 16 August 2007.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the take-up rate of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevenar has been since 4 September 2006;
	(2)  what studies have been commissioned into the effectiveness of Prevenar since 4 September 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on the pneumococcal vaccine uptake for children are currently being collected on behalf of the Department by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and no robust analysis is available yet. Preliminary data from just over half of primary care trusts in England suggested that over 60 per cent. of children targeted in the catch-up campaign had received the vaccine. We do not yet know the level of uptake of the vaccine given as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme.
	The impact of the vaccine has been very significant, with the number of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in children, caused by any one of the seven serotypes contained in the vaccine, falling since the introduction of the new vaccine a year ago. The latest data are available on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/pneumococcal/default.htm

Meningitis: Vaccination

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to increase awareness of the Prevenar vaccine.

Dawn Primarolo: A public awareness campaign ran in September 2006 in support of the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine. The new vaccine was publicised through television, radio and press advertising and an information pack was available for parents and health professionals.
	There is a section on the immunisation.nhs.uk website about pneumococcal vaccines, and a leaflet on the pneumococcal catch-up programme has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.immunisation.nhs.uk/files/275877_Catch-upleaflet.pdf
	The pneumococcal vaccine is now part of the routine immunisation programme and is described in the Guide to childhood immunisations leaflet, available from general practitioner surgeries. Information and advice is also offered on this and other vaccines by health professionals before immunisations are given.

Midwives: Manpower

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the estimated required number of midwives is in each of the next five years;
	(2)  what percentage of midwives are due to retire in each of the next five years; and how many new midwives are planned to be recruited in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not collect information on the estimated numbers of retirements for midwives, this is a matter for strategic health authorities to build into their local workforce plans as they are best placed to assess the midwifery needs of their local population.
	As part of NHS Operating Framework for 2007-08, local organisations are reviewing their workforce capacity and may identify the need to invest in their maternity services and increase staffing levels.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of press officers employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is not held by the Department. NICE is an independent body and should be contacted direct for this information.

National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.

Dawn Primarolo: There is one press officer employed at the National Treatment Agency.

Neurology: Manpower

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for the numbers of  (a) adult neurologists,  (b) paediatric neurologists,  (c) learning disability specialists and  (d) neuro-radiologists in the next 10 years; and whether there are targets for the number of consultants in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the work force contribution to delivering the NHS improvement plan, we are moving away from an emphasis on centrally prescribed national targets to a reliance on credible local plans to maximise work force capacity to support delivery.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local national health service trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver these services.
	The following table shows the number of medical staff in neurology has increased by 372 or 59 per cent. since 1997.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): medical staff working within the neurology specialty by grade and year, England as at 30 September each year 
			  Number (headcount) and full-time equivalents 
			   1997  2006 
			   Number  FTE  Number  FTE 
			 All staff 638 555 1,012 892 
			  
			 Consultant 278 246 506 455 
			 Associate specialist 6 5 16 11 
			 Staff grade 6 6 20 14 
			 Registrar group 159 138 231 208 
			 Senior house officer 141 140 163 157 
			 Foundation Year 2 n/a n/a 28 28 
			 House officer and foundation programme year 1 10 10 8 8 
			 Hospital practitioner/clinical assistant 37 11 40 10 
			 Other staff 1 0 (1) (1) 
			 n/a = denotes not applicable (1) = denotes zero 0 = denotes more than zero, less than one  Source: Information Centre, Medical and Dental Workforce Census

NHS Connecting for Health

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2007,  Official Report, column 885W, on NHS Connecting for Health, which communications agency established the link; how much Connecting for Health has paid that agency; and which other communications agencies have had contracts with Connecting for Health, and at what value.

Ben Bradshaw: The communications agency concerned is Good Relations. Payments made to the agency for services provided to NHS Connecting for Health from 1 April 2005, when NHS Connecting for Health came into being, to 26 September 2007, total 509,263 including VAT.
	NHS Connecting for Health also holds, or has held, contacts with Fishburn Hedges, and with Porter Novelli, payments to whom, over the same period, total 2,881,595 including VAT.
	NHS Connecting for Health recognises the need for clear and accurate communications with the public and other stakeholder groups, including national health service staff. A key priority for successful implementation of an effective, national information technology systema central plank of national health service modernisationis to ensure that the public and stakeholders are fully informed and have an awareness and understanding of the benefits. The agencies concerned were appointed to assist in this important communication process and to produce supporting materials.
	The contracts have delivered value for money. Examples of outputs include videos to explain the new systems and services; exhibition stands and an outdoor exhibition trailer to support face-to-face engagement; millions of copies of associated guidance material, posters and information packs for NHS staff and patients; and implementation advice and case studies for local NHS bodies that demonstrate the value of the programme, how benefits can be realised and lessons learned from implementations.

NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers are employed by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

Dawn Primarolo: The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement employs two full-time press officers.

NHS Treatment Centres: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the development of independent sector treatment centres in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is working with the national health service to review the specifications of schemes in Phase 2 of the central procurement process, including the proposed scheme for the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire area, to ensure that future schemes best meet the needs of the local NHS and are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they will operate. This exercise is ongoing and is expected to be completed in October. Once this process is complete, and all parties involved in negotiations have been informed of the outcomes, further information will be made available.

NHS Treatment Centres: Essex

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations, and from whom, have been received in support of an independent treatment centre in mid-Essex.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not keep data on the precise number of representations received on the specific issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said that he expects to approve further independent sector schemes in coming months, and that they will only go forward where the local national health service supports their introduction.

NHS Treatment Centres: Essex

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the establishment of an Independent Treatment Centre in mid-Essex; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department is working with the national health service to review the specifications of the remaining schemes in Phase 2 of the central procurement process, including the proposed scheme for Essex, to ensure that future schemes best meet the needs of the local NHS, and are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they will operate. This exercise is ongoing, and expected to be completed in October. Once this process is complete, and all parties involved in negotiations have been informed of the outcomes, further information will be made available.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent establishing independent sector treatment centres.

Ben Bradshaw: The costs of establishing Wave 1 and Phase 2 of the independent sector treatment centre programme are shown in the following table. Procurement costs cover all assessment, scoping, procurement and associated management, professional advisory and support costs.
	
		
			  Wave 1  and phase 2 procurement costs 
			   million 
			   Wave  1  Phase 2 
			 2006-07 2.2 38.6 
			 2005-06 12.4 26.5 
			 2004-05 34.9 8 
			 2003-04 23.4

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the analysis his Department has undertaken into the possible effects of the independent sector treatment centre programme on NHS facilities.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has undertaken analysis of the prospective impact of proposed Phase 2 schemes, but considers that it is not reasonable to place this information in the Library at this time, because the analyses concerned are still contributing to procurement processes, the outcomes of which remain subject to ministerial decisions which have yet to be made.

NHS: Billing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts  (a) paid and  (b) did not pay 95 per cent. of undisputed invoices within contract terms or 30 days where no terms have been agreed in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07; and what the total value was of those invoices in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: This information has been placed in the Library.

NHS: DHL

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value of the capital equipment was in the 10 prime categories signed over to DHL in the NHS supply chain contract.

Ben Bradshaw: The national health service capital spend in the 10 prime categories has not been signed over to DHL.
	The approximate value of NHS capital spend in the 10 prime categories managed by DHL in the NHS supply chain contract is 2 - 2.25 billion. This means that DHL has the opportunity to offer to manage this spend on behalf of individual NHS trusts and foundation trusts.

NHS: Exel Europe

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the key performance indicators contained within the master services agreement between Exel Europe Limited and the NHS Business Services Authority for the operation of the NHS supply chain will be published by or under the authority of his Department on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The chief executive of the NHS Business Services Authority (Nick Scholte) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question and a copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Finance

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capital and revenue costs of implementing the Healthy Futures and Making it Better proposals are over the next five years itemised by primary care trust.

Ann Keen: The consultation teams for Making it Better and Healthy Futures are currently in the early stages of planning and scoping their implementation programmes and activities.
	As part of the planning stage of the implementation programme, capital and revenue costs of these changes, as well as taking into account any recommendations by the Secretary of State will be reviewed.
	At present the costs have not been finalised.

NHS: Procurement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the 10 prime categories of the NHS supply chain contract are.

Ben Bradshaw: The prime categories of the NHS supply chain contract are:
	Category
	Medical supplies
	Food and kitchen
	Print and stationery
	Laundry and cleaning
	Bedding and linen
	Dressings
	Uniforms and clothing
	Patient appliances
	Laboratory equipment
	Other equipment
	Furniture/office and computer equipment

NHS: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many submissions were received during the evidence-gathering phase for the development of the Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2008-09; how many of these were received from  (a) national societies,  (b) patient groups,  (c) pharmaceutical companies,  (d) individuals,  (e) primary care organisations and  (f) others; and how many related to each type of disease.

Ben Bradshaw: The team of experts appointed by NHS Employers and the British Medical Association (BMA) to inform the ongoing review and development of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) received 153 submissions in its latest round of evidence gathering. NHS Employers have announced that the breakdown of source of the submissions was as follows: national societies (27 per cent.), patient groups (25 per cent.), pharmaceutical companies (13 per cent.), individuals (15 per cent.), primary care organisations (10 per cent.), others (10 per cent.).
	Any changes to the QOF depend on wider discussions between NHS Employers and the BMA about the General Medical Services contract. The advice given to the negotiating parties by the expert panel and further details of the submissions received, including the number related to each type of disease, are confidential to the negotiations.

Obesity: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent assessment is of the  (a) obesity and  (b) smoking rate in each ward of the Peterborough city council area.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimated prevalence of obesity and smoking among adults aged 16 and over, along with associated confidence intervals are provided for the wards in the Peterborough local authority. These estimates are taken from the Synthetic Estimates of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours and are published on the Neighbourhood Statistics website at:
	www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/Download1.do
	These estimates are for the combined years 2000-02 and are shown in table 1 and table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Estimated prevalence of obesity among adults, by ward in the Peterborough local authority area, 2000-02 
			  Percentage 
			   Estimated prevalence of obesity  95 per cent. lower confidence interval  95 per cent. upper  confidence interval  Comparison of estimated prevalence for obesity with national estimate( 1) 
			 Barnack 18.8 12.5 26.9 2 
			 Bretton North 25.8 17.8 35.3 2 
			 Bretton South 23.1 15.7 32.1 2 
			 Central 24.7 17.1 34.1 2 
			 Dogsthorpe 27.9 19.5 37.9 2 
			 East 25.2 17.5 34.7 2 
			 Eye and Thorney 26.6 18.6 36.5 2 
			 Fletton 23.9 16.5 33.2 2 
			 Glinton and Wittering 21.1 14.2 29.7 2 
			 Newborough 24.1 16.6 33.6 2 
			 North 26.6 18.5 36.3 2 
			 Northborough 22.5 15.3 31.6 2 
			 Orton Longueville 25.9 17.9 35.5 2 
			 Orton Waterville 21.1 14.4 29.7 2 
			 Orton with Hampton 20.0 13.5 28.4 2 
			 Park 21.4 14.6 30.1 2 
			 Paston 26.2 18.2 35.8 2 
			 Ravensthorpe 28.1 19.5 38.1 2 
			 Stanground Central 25.9 18.0 35.5 2 
			 Stanground East 23.8 16.4 33.1 2 
			 Walton 24.8 17.2 34.1 2 
			 Werrington North 22.2 15.2 31.2 2 
			 Werrington South 22.9 15.8 31.9 2 
			 West 19.6 13.2 27.8 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Tabl e 2 : Estimated prevalence of  smoking  among adults, by ward in the Peterborough local authority area, 2000-02 
			  Percentage 
			   Estimated prevalence of  smoking  95 per cent. lower confidence interval  95 per cent. upper  confidence interval  Comparison of estimated prevalence for  smoking  with national estimate( 1) 
			 Barnack 13.0 7.4 21.8 1 
			 Bretton North 34.8 22.2 49.9 2 
			 Bretton South 23.5 14.1 36.4 2 
			 Central 24.7 14.8 38.2 2 
			 Dogsthorpe 35.3 22.6 50.4 2 
			 East 35.0 22.5 50.2 2 
			 Eye and Thorney 21.6 12.9 33.9 2 
			 Fletton 36.5 23.6 51.9 2 
			 Glinton and Wittering 18.4 10.7 29.5 2 
			 Newborough 21.1 12.4 33.5 2 
			 North 31.9 20.2 46.6 2 
			 Northborough 15.5 8.9 25.5 2 
			 Orton Longueville 31.8 20.0 46.5 2 
			 Orton Waterville 19.4 11.4 31.0 2 
			 Orton with Hampton 21.0 12.4 33.4 2 
			 Park 20.6 12.1 32.5 2 
			 Paston 34.5 22.0 49.6 2 
			 Ravensthorpe 33.5 21.1 48.5 2 
			 Stanground Central 27.5 16.9 41.6 2 
			 Stanground East 26.4 16.1 40.3 2 
			 Walton 28.8 17.8 42.8 2 
			 Werrington North 24.7 14.8 38.2 2 
			 Werrington South 16.5 9.6 26.8 2 
			 West 14.3 8.2 23.8 1 
			 (1) It should be noted that the scores for comparing the synthetic estimate to the national estimate relate to the data as follows: 1=CI significantly below NE, 2=overlapping, 3=CI significantly above NE. The national estimate is derived directly from the Health Surveys for England 2000-02 (with associated confidence intervals) and therefore is not a model-based estimate.  Source: Synthetic Estimates of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours at Ward Level, 2000-02. Neighbourhood Statistics, Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Paediatrics: Doctors

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior paediatric doctors are working in the NHS by  (a) headcount and  (b) full-time equivalent.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of junior doctors in the paediatric specialty is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) : medical and dental staff showing doctors in training grades working in a paediatric specialty England as at 30 September 2006 
			  N umber (headcount) and full time equivalents ( F te) 
			   All paediatric specialties  Paediatric cardiology  Paediatric dentistry  Paediatric surgery  Paediatrics 
			   N o .  F te  N o .  F te  N o .  F te  N o .  F te  N o .  F te 
			 Doctors in training 4,222 4,110 61 60 24 23 194 192 3,943 3,834 
			 Registrar Group 1,849 1,756 36 35 18 17 95 94 1,700 1,610 
			 Senior house officer 2,022 2,004 25 25 6 6 81 81 1,910 1,892 
			 Foundation Year 2 214 214 0 0 0 0 10 10 204 204 
			 House officer 137 137 0 0 0 0 8 8 129 129 
			  Note:  The training grades include junior doctors in trust grade posts.   Source:  The Information Centre (1C), Medical and Dental Workforce Census. All rights reserved.

Patientline

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the NHS's contract with Patientline.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no single national health service contract with Patientline. Patientline's contracts are tailored to each NHS trust according to its specific needs.

Patients: Foreigners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients treated by the NHS in each year since 2003 were foreign nationals resident in the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: Successive Governments have not required the national health service to provide statistics on the numbers of foreign nationals who are treated by the NHS, including those who are resident in the United Kingdom. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.

Pharmacy

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the prospects for local pharmacies to operate a minor ailments service; whether he expects primary care trusts to promote such a service; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS, which was published in December 2003, the Department said that it expected all primary care trusts to consider commissioning pharmacist-led minor ailments services so that patients, who would otherwise have gone to their general practitioner for a medicine for a minor ailment, could get that medicine on the national health service from their community pharmacy.
	Primary care trusts assess the health needs their population and commission services to meet those needs, in accordance with local priorities and finite resources.

Princess Royal Hospital Telford

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there are at the Princess Royal hospital at Telford.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not centrally available, as the Department does not collect bed data at hospital level. However, this data is available at national health service trust level.
	In 2006-07, the latest period for which data is available, there was an average daily number of 853 available beds provided by Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS trust. These consisted of beds open overnight and day only beds.
	 Source:
	Department of Health KH03 return.

Recombinant Factor VII

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 273W, on Recombinant Factor VII, what the service level is between his Department and each strategic health authority for the provision of Recombinant Factor VII.

Dawn Primarolo: The service level agreement between the Department and each strategic health authority is for the provision of recombinant clotting factors. This includes Recombinant Factor VII and Factor VIII. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 June 2007,  Official Report, column 992W.

Ritalin

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to initiate research into possible  (a) health and  (b) psychological side effects associated with the use of the drug Ritalin.

Dawn Primarolo: The safety of the use of methylphenidate is kept under careful review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in conjunction with other European regulatory authorities. In June 2007, at the request of the European Commission, a Europe wide review of the safety of methylphenidate products, including the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, was initiated. As part of this review, the United Kingdom, on behalf of Europe, is in discussion with the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture methylphenidate products about the conduct of research to better characterise and further investigate the safety profile of methylphenidate. As new data emerge it will be carefully evaluated by the MHRA and where necessary current prescribing advice will be updated to reflect the new evidence.

Ritalin

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure the use of Ritalin only as part of a comprehensive programme including social, psychological and behavioural treatments as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Ivan Lewis: We fully support the advice given by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in England on the use of drug therapy in treating children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and expect the national health service to take this guidance into account when treating patients.
	NICE have advised that drug therapy to treat ADHD, of which Ritalin is but one option, should only be part of a comprehensive treatment programme that includes a range of social, psychological and behavioural interventions. These are mainly aimed at the child, but sometimes involve the parents and/or teachers. NICE has recommended that drug therapy should only be initiated by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional with expertise in ADHD and should be based on a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis. Continued prescribing and monitoring of drug treatment may be performed by general practitioners, under shared care arrangements.
	Psychological interventions that may be helpful include behavioural management, parent training, family and/or individual therapy, social skills training, cognitive behaviour therapy and problem solving techniques, among others. Careful, informed clinical decision-making, involving the parents and child should involve discussion of the benefits versus the risks of all interventions.
	We have also asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline on both the pharmacological and psychological interventions to treat ADHD. The guideline will cover the care provided by primary, community and secondary healthcare professionals who have direct contact with, and make decisions concerning, the care of children, young people and adults with ADHD. The guideline will include:
	care in general practice and NHS community care;
	hospital out-patient and in-patient care;
	primary/secondary interface of care; and
	transition from childhood services to adult services.
	Publication of the guideline is expected in July 2008.

Smoking: Health Services

Celia Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been made available for smoking cessation programmes; and how the allocations to individual funds are determined.

Dawn Primarolo: The total funding allocation for the NHS Stop Smoking Services is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial allocations to the NHS for stop smoking services 
			million 
			 1979-98 0 
			 1998-99 0 
			 1999-2000 10 (HAZs only) 
			 2000-01 20 (10 HAZs, 10 Has) 
			 2001-02 (1)23 (10 HAZ, 10 Has) 
			 2002-03 (1)23 
			 2003-04 41 
			 2004-05 46 
			 2005-06 51 
			 2006-07 (2)56 
			 2007-08 (2)56 
			 HAZ= Health action zones.  (1) 3 million in 2001-02 and 2002-03 for smoking in pregnancy initiative.  (2) Including additional 5 million heavily weighted towards spearhead PCTs. 
		
	
	The 2006-07 and 2007-08 revenue allocations to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) separately identify 211 million in 2006-07 and 342 million in 2007-08, around half of the 1 billion promised, to support implementation of the Choosing Health White Paper. For the two years covered by this allocation, a total of 10 million has been identified nationally to invest in the NHS Stop Smoking Services initiative.
	Funding to support the NHS Stop Smoking Services has been allocated to PCTs on a weighted capitation basis, with the majority of the funding directed towards Spearhead PCTs.
	Information on individual PCT allocations has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/Allocations/AllocationsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4104471chk=kDkAyL

Surgery: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many surgeons in the NHS were capable of carrying out  (a) hepatobiliary,  (b) renal,  (c) cardiac and  (d) ophthalmic surgery in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to increase the number of  (a) hepatobiliary,  (b) renal,  (c) cardiac and  (d) ophthalmic surgeons in each of the next three years.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local NHS trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to recruit the appropriate staff required to deliver these services.

Surgery: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Peterborough constituency have had their inpatient surgical treatment cancelled three times or more in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the number of last minute cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for 2006-07 which are the latest data available.
	
		
			  Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			   Number 
			 Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons 262 
			 Number of urgent operations that were cancelled for a second or subsequent time for non clinical reasons 0 
			  Notes: 1. A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation. 2. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; administration error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable. 3. Urgent operations are as defined by National Confidentially Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths. 'Immediate', 'Urgent' and 'Expedited' operations are included in the definition. However, 'Elective' operations are not included in the definition  Source: Department of Health datasets: QMCO and Weekly Situation Reports

Transplant Surgery: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many surgeons in the NHS were capable of carrying out transplant surgery in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Transplant surgery is a sub-specialty of general surgery; the Information Centre for Health and Social Care does not collect information by sub-specialty.
	The 2006 NHS workforce census showed there were 1,756 consultants working in the general surgery speciality, an increase of 578 or 49 per cent. since 1997.

University Hospital of North Staffordshire: Research

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies were undertaken at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire involving children from overseas in the 1990s.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not centrally held by the Department. The NHS West Midlands strategic health authority reports that University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust has recently written to the hon. Member following a similar request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Vaccines: Sleeping Contracts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2007,  Official Report, column 985W, on vaccines: sleeping contracts, when negotiations with the vaccine manufacturers were completed; with which vaccine manufacturers negotiations were held; whether the provision of pre-pandemic vaccines was discussed as part of the negotiations; whether the negotiations have implications for the public purse; and whether he expects to make the statement referred to in the answer alongside publication of an updated pandemic influenza preparedness plan.

Dawn Primarolo: Negotiations for the advanced supply contracts for pandemic specific vaccine were completed with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Baxter in May 2007 and the contracts became operational from 1 July 2007. The contracts are worth in total 155.4 million over four years, and are part of the continued work to prepare for and reduce the impact of a possible flu pandemic. Under these contracts GSK and Baxter are committed to supply a pandemic influenza vaccine to the United Kingdom as soon as the pandemic strain is identified and made available by the World Health Organisation.
	Pre-pandemic vaccine did not form part of the negotiations.
	A public announcement of the advanced supply agreements was made on 16 August 2007 and is reflected within the updated pandemic influenza preparedness plan which is due to be released shortly.

Westmorland Hospital: Mental Health Services

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the temporary closure of the adult mental health ward at Westmorland General Hospital could become permanent without a formal public consultation.

Ivan Lewis: National health service organisations currently have a duty to involve and consult patients, the public and their representatives in the planning and development of services, and to consult them on changes to the operation of services.
	Kentmere Ward at the Westmorland General is the responsibility of the Cumbria Partnership NHS trust. NHS North West reports that the ward has been closed temporarily on clinical safety grounds due to problems around recruitment to key posts. A recruitment exercise is currently under way.

Wi-Fi: Health Hazards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of people suffering health problems as a result of Wi-Fi communications and  (b) the causes of sensitivity to Wi-Fi technology;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the health implications of Wi-Fi communications;
	(3)  what representations he has received about the potential health implications of Wi-Fi communications;
	(4)  if he will set up an inquiry into Wi-Fi communications and their environmental and health impact.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department is advised by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Wi-Fi or similar wireless (WLAN) technology and health issues.
	Current advice from the HPA is that
	There is no consistent evidence to date that Wi-Fi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population. The signals are very low power, typically 0.1 watt (100 milliwatts) in both the computer and the router (access point) and the results so far show exposures are well within internationally accepted International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines. Based on current knowledge and experience, radio frequency exposures from Wi-Fi are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones. Also, the frequencies used in Wi-Fi are broadly the same as those from traditional radiofrequency applications..
	On the basis of this advice the Department believes it is not feasible to conduct any further estimates of the numbers affected.
	The HPA statement on Wi-Fi is available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/wifi.htm.
	In 2005 the HPA published a review of electrical sensitivity. This is a condition which some people attribute to exposure to electromagnetic fields associated with the electricity supply and electrical equipment. The review notes that although the symptoms are attributed to exposure to various types of electromagnetic fields, there is no proven scientific link between such exposures and symptoms. A number of studies have looked for diagnostic markers for electrical sensitivity but no consistent marker has been found. The HPA report entitled Definition, Epidemiology and Management of Electrical Sensitivity is available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/hpa_rpd_reports/2005/hpa_rpd_010.htm.
	From May to September this year the Department has replied to four parliamentary questions, four items of correspondence from organisations and twelve from members of the public that have cited Wi-Fi equipment as a cause of health problems including the disturbing symptoms referred to as electrical sensitivity.
	The Department is not planning an inquiry into Wi-Fi but the HPA is announcing a programme of work on Wi-Fi and WLAN installations such as those used in schools and homes. Discussions are underway with partner agencies, especially those in the education sector. This project aims to systematically investigate the types of Wi-Fi equipment in use and produce information on exposures to radio signals from wireless computer networks.
	An HPA fact sheet on Wi-Fi is available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/radiation_topics/emf/wlans.htm.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Balen Report

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the BBC on the publication of the Balen Report.

James Purnell: None. The decision on whether to publish the Balen Report is a matter for the BBC.

Betting

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to produce a response to the conclusions of the working group on regulation and administration of on-course betting before publication of the consultation document that he referred to in his speech in Westminster Hall on 4 July 2007,  Official Report, column 259WH; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department does not intend to produce a separate response to the conclusions of the working group, which are presently out to consultation on the National Joint Pitch Council's website www.njpc-ltd.co.uk. The future administrative arrangements for on-course bookmaking are for the bookmaking and racing industries to agree between themselves; it would not be appropriate for Government to favour one alternative above another. However, we understand the importance of those working in the bookmaking industry being able to comment on what is proposed, and so my officials have worked with the group to ensure that its conclusions are expressed in a logical and transparent format.

Betting

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of the Gambling Act 2005 on bookmakers' on-course pitch positions; what recent discussions he has had with the Racecourse Association on this topic; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As I indicated during the Westminster Hall debate on this subject on 4 July 2007,  Official Report , columns 237-60WH, and subsequently when I wrote on 25 July to hon. Members with an interest in this matter, the Government do not accept that the Gambling Act 2005 has had a direct effect on bookmakers' on-course pitch positions. No property has changed hands under the Act itself, nor does the Act abolish the National Pitch Rules or the National Joint Pitch Council. It remains open for racecourses, individually or collectively, to use the next five years to negotiate a commercial arrangement which is satisfactory to both sides.
	I have had no discussions with the Racecourse Association on this topic, but intend to meet the Association and on-course bookmakers' representatives shortly.

Betting

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many fixed odds betting terminals are currently in use in England;
	(2)  what Government policy is on the availability of fixed odds betting terminals; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Under the Gambling Act fixed odds betting terminals have been classified as category B2 gaming machines. The Gambling Commission's annual report 2006-07 estimates that there are 24,500 such machines located in licensed betting premises.
	As a result of the Gambling Act 2005 these machines are now strictly regulated alongside other gaming machines for the first time. They are required to abide by strict limits on stakes and prizes (100 and 500 respectively). The machines also have to comply with regulations, set by the Department, controlling the circumstances in which they are made available for use, and with technical standards set by the Gambling Commission. These include requirements to display information about where customers may obtain advice about gambling problems and a minimum game cycle duration.
	B2 gaming machines may only be made available in the heavily regulated environment of casinos and licensed betting premises, both of which may be accessed by adults only. Casinos may offer a maximum of 20 gaming machines of up to category B1 and licensed betting premises a maximum of four gaming machines of up to category B2.

Big Lottery Fund

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Big Lottery Fund grants went to statutory bodies in each year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following figures reflect the amount and percentage of grants awarded to statutory bodies in each year. They include awards under the Big Lottery Fund's new programmes introduced since June 2004 and legacy programmes inherited from the Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund.
	
		
			  Financial year (ending  31 March)  Amount awarded to statutory bodies ()  Percentage of grants awarded to statutory bodies 
			 2004 391,257,825 43.9 
			 2005 406,007,513 57.1 
			 2006 52,820,765 11.0 
			 2007 33,695,507 10.6 
		
	
	The Big Lottery Fund was created in June 2004. The definition of Statutory Bodies used covers the European regional development fund, further or higher education or university, local government, non-departmental public bodies, parish councils, public corporations, state schools and statutory health bodies.
	The Big Lottery Fund has given an undertaking that, under its new programmes, 60-70 per cent. of the funding will go to the third sector. Between June 2004 and March 2007, the figure for third sector awards under new programmes has been 77 per cent. 23 per cent. has gone to the statutory sector.

Big Lottery Fund: Wirral

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which projects were awarded funding by the Big Lottery Fund in each of the last five years in Wirral, broken down by constituency.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The figures reflect the amount awarded and the number of awards made by the Big Lottery Fund in each of the last five years in Wirral broken down by constituency.
	
		
			   Wirral West  Wirral South  Birkenhead  Wallasey 
			  2003-04 
			 Amount awarded () 111,020 908,793 695,869 767,663 
			 Number of awards made 17 13 19 17 
			  
			  2004-05 
			 Amount awarded () 71,699 604,930 4,060,814 248,651 
			 Number of awards made 39 31 36 38 
			  
			  2005-06 
			 Amount awarded () 200,989 207,395 1,942,199 231,043 
			 Number of awards made 34 29 46 35 
			  
			  2006-07 
			 Amount awarded () 81,504 69,025 258,917 88,942 
			 Number of awards made 14 10 22 17 
			  
			  YTD 2007 
			 Amount awarded () 50,456 54,499 814,848 222,511 
			 Number of awards made 8 9 8 10 
			  
			 Total of amounts awarded () 515,668 1,844,642 7,772,647 1,558,810 
			 Total number of awards made 112 92 131 117 
		
	
	The names of the projects funded can be obtained from the Big Lottery Fund website at:
	http://www.biglotteryfundgrants.org.uk:8080/grant-search/gs_001.xsql

Bookmakers: Licensing

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average cost of a bookmaker's premises licence is in each local authority in England and Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not gather information on the average cost of a bookmaker's premises licences in each local authority in England and Wales. The Secretary of State has set maximum fee levels for all classes and types of premises licence. The Gambling (Premises Licence Fees) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (SI No. 479) require licensing authorities in England and Wales to determine the fee for each type of licence on a cost recovery basis.

British Casino Association

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the British Casino Gambling Association since the oral answer from the Prime Minister of 11 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1438.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Ministers and officials from the Department meet regularly with representatives of the British Casino Association to discuss all aspects of casino policy.
	I met representatives of the British Casino Association on 26 July 2007.

Casinos

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by local authorities in preparing bids for  (a) small,  (b) regional and  (c) super casinos.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The decision to apply to the casino advisory panel was a matter for the local authorities concerned. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not hold information about how much was spent by local authorities in preparing applications.

Casinos

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's plans are for the establishment of super, large and small casinos as laid out in the Gambling Act 2005.

James Purnell: I set out the next steps in my written statement to the House on 16 July.

Climbing

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of people regularly using indoor climbing walls.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data from the 2005-06 Sport England Active People survey showed that 37,710 adults (16 years and over) participated at least once in the last four weeks in indoor climbing.

Climbing

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of people who regularly take part in mountaineering, including rock climbing and fell walking.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data from the 2005-06 Sport England 'Active People' survey showed that 146,600 adults (16 years and over) regularly participated in mountaineering including climbing and fell walking. 'Active People' regards participating at least once in the last four weeks as regular participation.

Community Development: Expenditure

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money was spent via the Community Investment Fund in each year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In each of the following years, the value of commitments made by Sport England through the Community Investment Fund was:
	
		
			million 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 19 
			 2006 20 
			 2007 51

Culture

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out his Department's existing targets in the cultural area of its responsibilities.

Margaret Hodge: The Department's 2007 annual report sets out all of DCMS's existing targets (including those in the cultural area of its responsibilities) and progress against them.
	The report is available on DCMS's public website, via the link as follows:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Annual_Reports/ar_2007.htm
	Hard copies of the annual report can also be found in the House Libraries.
	The next formal statement of progress against the full set of DCMS targets will be published in December 2007 in the form of the Department's annual autumn performance report.

Digital Broadcasting

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what spectrum bands will be available for Programme Making and Special Events use following the switchover to digital television broadcasting; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects Ofcom to provide the programme making and special events sector with the digital switchover map; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: Ofcom's consultation of 20 June 2007 on PMSE issues arising from the Digital Switchover (DSO), made proposals that would ensure access for the PMSE sector to the spectrum that will be interleaved with Digital Terrestrial Television after DSO. Although no decisions will be made until later in the year, Ofcom will provide as much information as possible on the frequencies that will make up this Digital Interleaved Spectrum as soon as it is available.

Digital Broadcasting: Multiple Occupation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he made of the preparedness of landlords of  (a) privately rented multi-dwelling units and  (b) social multi-dwelling units who, in preparation for the digital switchover for the dwelling units for which they are responsible (i) have upgraded the television system, (ii) have specific plans to do so and (iii) are unaware of the technical options or actions they need to take to make the transition to digital; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: Responsibility for upgrading communal television systems is a matter for landlords in consultation with residents. Digital UK is responsible for communicating with landlords and property managers in order to increase awareness and understanding about what they need to do to prepare for switchover.
	The Government published research in 2005 and 2007 which looked at the readiness of communal television systems provided by social landlords. The most recent research carried out by BMRB(1) and published in January 2007 showed an increase in the level of upgrade work since the 2005 survey with 32 per cent. of organisations in the process of completing the upgrade of all systems and nearly 50 per cent. having completed the upgrade of at least 30 per cent. of systems. Digital UK continues to map subsequent progress in the social sector through regional meetings and direct communications with social landlords.
	Collecting information on private sector landlords is much more difficult given the diversity of the sector. Digital UK collects information on awareness of digital switchover and conversion to digital television through the quarterly tracker survey. The most recent tracker survey(2) reports that digital conversion for households who live in flats is around 74 per cent. compared to digital take up of 80 per cent. across all tenures. Digital UK is continuing a targeted information campaign aimed at residents' associations and flat-dwellers in the first four regions scheduled for switchover, as well as communicating directly with private landlords.
	(1) Communal TV Systems and Preparation for Digital SwitchoverBMRB December 2006.
	(2) Digital Switchover Tracker Survey Switchover Progress Report Q2 2007 Ofcom and Digital UK August 2007.

Digital Broadcasting: Sight Impaired

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many blind and partially-sighted people are able to use teletext without the assistance of others; whether he estimates this number will change following the digital switchover; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: We have not made any estimation of the number of blind and partially sighted people who are able to use Teletext without the assistance of others and it would be difficult to do so.
	I recognise the impact that switching to digital television may have on those who rely on equipment that translates analogue written Teletext into audible speech as this piece of equipment will not work with digital text services. This should be balanced against the wider benefit that switchover brings of the provision of audio description services for blind and partially sighted people on terrestrial television.

Digital Broadcasting: Sight Impaired

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representation he has received from Portset on digital switchover and assistance for blind people to access teletext services.

James Purnell: I have received no representations from Portset, which manufactures Talking Teletext equipment that translates written teletext into audible speech.

Digital Broadcasting: Sight Impaired

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of the digital switchover on blind and partially-sighted persons.

James Purnell: A regulatory impact assessment was published in September 2005 setting out a detailed assessment of the impact of digital switchover on consumers, particularly elderly people and those with a disability. We have taken steps to address the disadvantages that these groups face as a result of switchover, primarily through the digital switchover help scheme. The scheme includes all households where one person is registered blind or is registered partially sighted. Those who are not registered, but are 75 years or over will also be eligible for help.
	We will continue to monitor and review the Government's policy on switchover for equality impact, including ongoing consultation with the RNIB and other organisations representing blind and partially sighted people, and are in the process of undertaking a full equalities impact assessment.

Digital Broadcasting: Weather

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what performance standards apply to the BBC with respect to ensuring continuity of service on the digital platform during extreme weather incidents; and what the contractual timeframe requirement is for achieving restoration of service following such weather incidents;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of residences which suffered sustained loss of the BBC digital signal  (a) during and  (b) in the week following the recent extreme weather conditions; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: This is a matter for the BBC. The BBC's charter specifies that the BBC must do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure viewers, listeners and other users are able to access the UK public services that are intended for them. The charter does not set specific performance standards in relation to continuity of service in the event of extreme weather incidents and Government have made no assessment of the number of residences which suffered loss of the BBC digital signal. I understand from the BBC that they work hard to restore transmission services in the event of any disruption as soon as possible.

Digital Broadcasting: Weather

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the reliability of the digital signal transmitting both radio and television broadcasts in periods of and following extreme weather conditions; and what plans he has to ensure security of service following digital switchover.

James Purnell: This Department has not made any assessment of the aforementioned issues. However, there is extensive research available about digital broadcasting characteristics.
	The technology used for broadcasting digital radio and television signals has been standardised by the European Standards body ETSI and allows broadcasters to strike a balance between robustness in adverse reception conditions against the number of services that can be broadcast.
	Digital television signals are constrained at present so as not to cause interference to analogue services. This can lead to digital appearing to perform unfavourably. After switchover, power levels for digital signals will be boosted to their full capacity.

Gambling

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms are in place to ensure that remote gambling operators operate legally with respect to the location of servers in advance of the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005 in September 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Before 1 September 2007, under the Gaming Act 1968, it was illegal to provide gaming by remote means where the gaming operator was based in Great Britain.
	From 1 September, offering remote gaming from Great Britain is permitted, and remote operators licensed under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) will be subject to requirements as to where they may locate their remote gambling equipment. Section 36(4) of the Act defines the types of equipment considered to be key equipment for the provision of gambling facilities. As part of the licence application process, the physical location of each piece of key equipment, including servers, must be stated and is then assessed by the Gambling Commission to ensure its location is acceptable and to enable effective regulation.
	From 1 September 2007, the Gambling Commission will carry out compliance visits to the operator's premises to ensure the location of equipment, including servers, is in accordance with their licence.
	It will be an offence under section 33 of the Act for an operator to provide facilities for gambling unless they hold the relevant licence.

Gambling

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a working group was formed at the international conference on online gambling held at Ascot in October 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following the International Remote Gambling summit in 2006, the Department will continue to build on its work with European partners and other international regulators to ensure high regulatory standards and encourage the adoption of measures to protect children and vulnerable people, keep crime out and keep gambling fair.
	We are considering with the Gambling Commission the option of an international working group to take this work forward.

Gambling

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role his Department played in the Gambling Commission's 2007 Prevalence Survey on problem gambling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 is an independent study which was overseen by the Gambling Commission and undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research. Officials from the Department were members of the steering group which was set up to help contribute to the delivery of the report. Other representatives included the Department of Health, Responsibility in Gambling Trust and the National Lottery Commission.

Gambling

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date his Department first received the Gambling Commission's 2007 Prevalence Survey on problem gambling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Officials received the British Gambling Prevalence Survey on 10 September. Ministers received a copy of the survey on 17 September.

Gambling Commission

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Gambling Commission's enforcement powers with respect to breaches of regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The enforcement powers under the Gambling Act 2005 came into force on 1 September 2007 and it is too early to assess their effectiveness. The Gambling Commission has been given wide-ranging enforcement powers and I expect it to use them fairly and proportionately.

Gambling Commission

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the running costs of the Gambling Commission are in 2007-08; and how many staff are employed at the commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 4 October 2007
	For 2007-08 the total running costs of the Gambling Commission are budgeted at 15.5 million. Currently the commission has 248 employees, but this is expected to fall to a steady state of around 200 by April 2008.

Gambling: Broadcasting

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the legality under the terms of the Gaming Act 1968 of the operation of LiveRoulette broadcast on Freeview and Sky and its website www.liveroulette.com.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has recently received one representation on the legality of the operation of LiveRoulette broadcast and website under the terms of the Gaming Act 1968. LiveRoulette operated by virtue of a bookmaker's permit issued in accordance with the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963.
	Under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005, LiveRoulette will require a remote casino operating licence from the Gambling Commission and be required to comply with the relevant licence conditions and codes of practice.

Gambling: Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which countries  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department have met to discuss online gaming; and on what dates these meetings took place.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Ministers and officials from DCMS regularly meet their counterparts from other countries to discuss gambling issues, including online gaming. Ministers and officials met representatives from 31 other jurisdictions which attended an International Summit on Remote Gambling at Ascot Racecourse on 31 October 2006.

Gambling: Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with representatives from the EU on internet gambling regulations.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Officials from my Department keep closely in touch with officials from other Departments, such as the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and officials in the European Commission on developments affecting remote gambling. Officials from DCMS and the Gambling Commission are also represented on the Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) which includes representatives from most European Union member states.

Gambling: Internet

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to introduce EU regulations for online gambling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I am not aware of any plans by the European Commission to introduce regulations in respect of online gambling.

Gambling: Internet

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria are applied in respect of the minimum age at which people are permitted to gamble using an online company when decisions are made about whether that company may advertise on British television.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are not responsible for decisions about which individual companies may or may not advertise on British television. The only gambling operators that are permitted to advertise on television are those licensed by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain or licensed in the European Economic Area (EEA) or licensed in a jurisdiction that the Government has decided to treat as if it were in the EEA for the purposes of gambling advertisingthis is known as 'white listing.'
	All gambling operators licensed in Great Britain are subject to the Gambling Act 2005 which makes it an offence for operators to offer online gambling to children and young people under the age of 18. It is also an offence under the Act for a young person to gamble online. In addition, the Government have set strict criteria for 'white listed' jurisdictions about the protection of children and vulnerable people. All jurisdictions currently on the 'white list' have a minimum age for gambling of 18.
	It is also an offence under the Gambling Act 2005 if a person brings to the attention of a child or young person information about gambling with a view to encouraging the child or young person to gamble. The Gambling Commission has powers under the Gambling Act to prosecute any person in respect of this offence.
	The Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) new codes of practice for gambling advertisers put in place strict controls to prohibit gambling advertising during or around children's programmes or programmes commissioned for, principally directed at or likely to appeal particularly to audiences below the age of 18. The gambling industry has agreed to abide by a voluntary ban on television gambling advertising before 9pm (with the exception of sports betting advertising during sports programmes).

Gambling: Licensing

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications have been received for remote gambling operating licences from companies  (a) based in the UK and  (b) from outside the UK.

Gerry Sutcliffe: By 4 October 2007, the Gambling Commission had received 175 applications for remote gambling operating licences. Of those applicants, 173 have a registered office in the UK, one in Dublin and one in Malta.

Gambling: Research

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research his Department has commissioned into problem gambling in the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Title  Organisation/author  Summary  Where published 
			 2006 A Literature Review and Survey of Statistical Sources on Remote Gambling RSe Consulting An overview of remote gambling with section on problem gambling. On DCMS website 
			 2006 Two peer reviews of: Europe Economics: Fixed Odds Betting Terminals(FOBT) and the Code of Practice: Round 2 Research: A Report for the Association of British Bookmakers Ltd Prof. Linda Hancocks Dr. Gerda Reiths The original report looked at levels of problem gambling among FOBT users. On DCMS website 
			 2004 Young People and Gambling in Britain: A systematic and critical review of the research literature relating to gaming machine, lottery and pools coupons practice by children and young people under 18 Lancaster University The review looked at problem gambling among other issues. On DCMS website

Information Officers: Arts Council England

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by Arts Council England.

Margaret Hodge: Arts Council England does not employ press officers. Instead, they employ staff with responsibility for communicating with the media as part of their wider role in the organisation. Two of these members of staff are based at the national office and 18 across the regional offices.

Information Officers: Big Lottery Fund

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Big Lottery Fund.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Big Lottery Fund currently employs eight full-time press officers.

Information Officers: British Film Institute

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the British Film Institute.

Margaret Hodge: The British Film Institute employs five full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers. This includes one communications manager who deals with press 50 per cent. of the time and one corporate and public affairs person who deals with press 50 per cent. of the time.

Information Officers: British Library

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the British Library.

Margaret Hodge: The British Library employs four full-time press officers and one free-lance press officer for the exhibition Sacred.

Information Officers: British Museum

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the British Museum.

Margaret Hodge: The British Museum employs two press officers.

Information Officers: Heritage Lottery Fund

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Margaret Hodge: The Heritage Lottery Fund employs three press officers.

Information Officers: Historic Royal Palaces

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by Historic Royal Palaces.

Margaret Hodge: Historic Royal Palaces has one senior press officer, two public relations managers and a Head of Communications. They are all full-time and, in addition to their duties liaising with the press, these officers deal with both public enquiries and media enquiries, such as those concerned with filming at the Palaces.

Information Officers: Museums Libraries and Archives Council

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

Margaret Hodge: Two.

Information Officers: National Lottery Commission

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the National Lottery Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The National Lottery Commission employs two communications officers. Part of their job is to deal with press inquiries.

Information Officers: Natural History Museum

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Natural History Museum.

Margaret Hodge: The Natural History Museum employs four press officers.

Information Officers: Royal Parks

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by Royal Parks.

Margaret Hodge: The Royal Parks has one full-time press officer and a communications manager who deals with press issues occasionally.

Information Officers: Science Museum

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Science Museum.

Margaret Hodge: The Science Museum employs three full-time press officers and one part-time press officer.

Information Officers: Sport England

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by Sport England.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England currently employs 6.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers.
	This takes into account a percentage of press work done in each of Sport England's regions.

Information Officers: Sports Council for Wales

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Sports Council for Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This is a devolved matter which is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

Information Officers: UK Film Council

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the UK Film Council.

Margaret Hodge: The UK Film Council employs 1.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers. This is made up of:
	0.5 FTE: one part-time press officer
	0.5 FTE: 50 per cent. of the Press and Public Affairs Manager
	0.3 FTE: 30 per cent. of an industry relations role
	0.2 FTE: 20 per cent. of the Head of Communications

Information Officers: UK Sport

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by UK Sport.

Gerry Sutcliffe: UK Sport's Communications Team employs five members of staff covering all aspects of communications including press.

Information Officers: Victoria and Albert Museum

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by the Victoria and Albert museum.

Margaret Hodge: The Victoria and Albert museum employs three press officers.

Information Officers: VisitBritain

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers are employed by VisitBritain.

Margaret Hodge: There are 8.5 posts under VisitBritain's head of press and PR delivering the organisation's England, international and corporate press and public relations functions. In addition, some 25 posts in VisitBritain's overseas offices are designated as having a media, press, PR or communications role.

McMaster Review

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects Sir Brian McMaster's review of how the Government supports the arts to be published.

Margaret Hodge: The Secretary of State has asked Sir Brian to report by the end of 2007.

McMaster Review

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the terms of reference are for the review being carried out for his Department by Sir Brian McMaster.

Margaret Hodge: The Secretary of State has asked Sir Brian McMaster to consider three main themes in his review:
	How the system of public sector support for the arts can encourage excellence, risk taking and innovation;
	How artistic excellence can encourage wider and deeper engagement with the arts by audiences;
	How to establish a light touch and non-bureaucratic method to judge the quality of the arts in the future.

McMaster Review

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated cost of the review being carried out for his Department by Sir Brian McMaster is; on what date he expects Sir Brian to report; and what opportunities have been provided for stakeholders and others to contribute to the review.

Margaret Hodge: We expect the review to incur cash costs of approximately 50,000. In addition, numerous organisations and stakeholders are contributing their time and resources to the review in kind. The Secretary of State has asked Sir Brian to report by the end of 2007.
	All of Arts Council England's regularly funded organisations have received letters inviting them to contribute to the review, as have the national and regional hub museums. There will also be a series of interviews and group meetings with stakeholders in order to inform Sir Brian's thinking ahead of the review's publication.
	In addition to this, we will shortly be publishing information about the review on the departmental website, along with details of how members of the public can contribute their ideas.

National Lottery Commission: Manpower

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed by the National Lottery Commission.

Gerry Sutcliffe: As of 3 October 2007, the National Lottery Commission employed 41 people.

National Lottery: Costs

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the annual operating costs of each of the National Lottery distributors were in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This information is contained in distributor's annual reports and accounts, copies of which are laid before Parliament and available in the Library of the House.

National Lottery: Grants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been allocated to statutory bodies from each National Lottery distributor in each year since 1994.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department's National Lottery Grants Database does not record the recipient status, whether statutory body, local authority or private sector, for every grant it records. The information requested could therefore only be provided by requesting a designation for every award from each distributor, which would incur disproportionate cost

National Lottery: Grants

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was received by each of the National Lottery good causes in each year since 1995-96 in constant 2007-08 prices.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The figures requested, which are for income raised for the various good causes including investment income, are given in the following tables using 2006-07 constant prices, the latest available from the Office for National Statistics.
	
		
			   1995-96  1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01 
			 Arts 399 399 445 346 313 334 
			 Heritage 399 402 461 382 342 377 
			 Sport 399 402 457 372 324 349 
			 Millennium 401 407 501 481 416 404 
			 Charitable expenditure 401 402 455 369 327 346 
			 Health, education and environment   134 401 360 285 
			 Total 1,999 2,011 2,454 2,351 2,082 2,095 
		
	
	
		
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Arts 338 284 247 253 252 213 
			 Heritage 366 323 265 279 278 231 
			 Sport 346 286 245 252 251 213 
			 Millennium 142 23 6 6 4  
			 Charitable expenditure 339 277 242 246 245  
			 Health, education and environment 549 569 494 507 505  
			 Charities, health, education and environment  630 
			 Olympics 16 116 
			 Total 2,080 1,763 1,499 1,543 1,550 1,403 
		
	
	Totals may not cast arithmetically due to rounding. For 2006-07, income raised before 1 December 2006 for the charitable expenditure good cause and the health, education and environment good cause is shown under the new combined good cause. The figures for income raised for the health, education and environment good cause in 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2005-06 and 2006-07 includes money that was transferred from that income stream to the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).

National Lottery: NHS Trusts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was distributed to NHS trusts by each of the National Lottery distributors in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following table shows the number and value of grants on the Department's Lottery Grants Database where the name of the recipient is recorded as NHS Trust. The information is for the last five complete financial years and the values of grants are rounded to the nearest 1,000. In the case of the Big Lottery Fund, the information was supplied directly by the distributor.
	
		
			   
			  Distributor  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Big Lottery Fund(1) 73,878,000 33,841,000 750,000 761,000 339,000 
			 Heritage Lottery Fund   197,000 25,000 23,000 
			 UK Sport  
			 Sport England  
			 Sport Northern Ireland  
			 Sport Scotland  
			 Sports Council Wales1,000 1,000 
			 Arts Council England 184,000 64,000 234,000 184,000 107,000 
			 Arts Council Northern Ireland  
			 Scottish Arts Council 8,000 82,000 9,000   
			 Arts Council Wales 93,000 10,000 100,000 133,000 139,000 
			 UK Film Council   4,000   
			 Scottish Screen  
			 (1 )The New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund were replaced by the Big Lottery Fund on the 1 December 2006. 
		
	
	The Department's Lottery grant database is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk and uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.

National Lottery: Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the amount of lottery funding which will be received by  (a) Sport England,  (b) Sport Scotland,  (c) Sports Council Wales and  (d) Sports Council Northern Ireland in each year from 2008 to 2013.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Figures based on the Department's current National Lottery income projections are given in the following table. My officials review the projections four times a year, so the figures are subject to possible future change.
	
		
			  Projected lottery income, including investment income but net of proposed transfers to the Olympic Lottery distribution fund 
			   million (rounded to nearest 0.1 million) 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  2011-12  2012-13  Tota l 
			 Sport England 121.8 101.8 99.6 100.5 127.1 550.8 
			 Sport Scotland 15.9 13.3 13 13.1 16.6 71.9 
			 SCW 8.8 7.4 7.2 7.3 9.2 39.9 
			 SNI 5.1 4.3 4.2 4.2 5.3 23.1

Night Clubs: Body Searches

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it a mandatory licensing condition for nightclubs to operate a system of searching entrants for weapons.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The searching of entrants to nightclubs can help promote the licensing objectives of public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder but, as the Secretary of State's guidance to licensing authorities makes clear, such conditions should only be imposed where necessary, taking into account factors such as the location and type of venue. Where the police believe that a premises selling alcohol is associated with serious crime or serious disorder, such as the use of knives or guns, they can apply for a fast track review of the premises licence under new powers which came into force on 1 October 2007. In such cases, licensing authorities must also consider if it is appropriate to impose immediate extra conditions, such as a requirement to search for weapons, on the licence pending that review.

Olympic Games: Finance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 30 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1387W, on the Olympic Games: finance, what the final figures signed off in UK sport's audited 2006-07 year-end accounts were for the amounts spent on the Olympic sports as part of the planned World Class Pathway funding for the Beijing Cycle, broken down by sport.

Gerry Sutcliffe: UK Sport invested a total of 72.45 million in pathway funds for Olympic and Paralympic sports during 2006-07, through its World Class Pathway Programme. Of this total, 53.4 million was invested in Olympic sports, 7.4 million in Paralympic sports, and 11.7 million in services to support the Olympic and Paralympic investment.
	The total amount invested directly into Olympic National Governing Bodies and athletes for this period has been broken down by sport in the following table:
	
		
			  2006-07 
			  Sport   
			 Archery 740,627 
			 Athletics 6,389,548 
			 Badminton 1,549,194 
			 Boxing 791,786 
			 Canoeing 2,831,657 
			 Cycling 6,014,638 
			 Diving 1,112,648 
			 Equestrian 2,812,707 
			 Fencing 528,928 
			 Gymnastics 1,756,099 
			 Handball 431,000 
			 Hockey 2,435,865 
			 Judo 1,515,541 
			 Modern Pentathlon 1,299,439 
			 Rowing 7,059,681 
			 Sailing 6,286,419 
			 Softball 170,000 
			 Swimming 4,845,012 
			 Synchro Swimming 178,192 
			 Table Tennis 583,450 
			 Taekwondo 597,547 
			 Target Shooting 1,000,301 
			 Triathlon 786,827 
			 Volleyball 536,500 
			 Water Polo 423,283 
			 Weightlifting 228,282 
			 Wrestling 448,375 
			 Grand total 53,353,546

Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many overnight visits  (a) he and  (b) his predecessor made to Peterborough in each year since 1997.

James Purnell: None.

Piers

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of seaside piers are publicly owned; and how many have  (a) applied for and  (b) been awarded funding from the National Lottery.

Margaret Hodge: There are currently 55 piers still standing, 16 of which are owned by local authorities (LAs).
	Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has received 12 applications for seaside piers, six for piers which are owned by LAs. HLF has granted funding for three of those owned by local authorities.
	The breakdown of the awards for the three LA owned seaside piers is set out in the table:
	
		
			  Name  Grantee  Number of p rojects  Value of  a wards () 
			 Penarth Pier Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd./Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council 2 1,151,000 
			 Saltburn by the Sea Pier Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 1 1,208,000 
			 Southport Pier Southport Pier Trust Company Ltd./Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council 2 1,734,000

Primary Education: Football

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many primary schools do not have a football team competing in a schools league.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Of the 17,361 primary schools in England, the English Schools Football Association (ESFA) advise that approximately 5,361 do not compete in either county, district or national football competitions.
	The 2005-06 School Sport Survey found that 99 per cent. of primary schools offered football during the last year and that 79 per cent. of primary schools have a link with a football club.

Radio

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ofcom regarding the regulation of commercial radio.

James Purnell: The regulation of radio is one of the items that I and my officials discuss in our periodic meetings with Ofcom.

Sport Action Zones

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been invested in Sport Action Zones since 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Core funding for each of the 12 designated Sport Action Zones totalled 350,000 over the five years of planned investment (2000-05); meaning an overall total of 4.2 million.
	A further 1.998 million Magnet funding was also awarded to the scheme. Any future investment in Sport Action Zones has been mainstreamed through Sport England's Community Investment Fund (CIF).

Sport Direct

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2007,  Official Report, column 2145W, on Sport Direct, when the one stop shop is likely to be created; what work has already been undertaken to assess the most effective way of integrating different sources of sports participation information; how many civil servants are involved in the assessment process; how much has been allocated to establishing the one stop shop; and how much of such funding has been spent on development to date.

James Purnell: A number of options for delivering a one stop shop service for sport have been considered, and from the autumn this service will be accessible via the NHS Choices website. Officials discussed the most effective way of integrating sources of sports participation information with Sport England and the Department of Health.
	Two DCMS civil servants were involved in the assessment process.
	All costs of developing and establishing the new service have been met within existing budgets.

Sports: Elderly

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of people over the age of 60 involved in regular sports participation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data from the DCMS 2005-06 'Taking Part' survey showed that:
	10.4 per cent. of people aged 60 and over engaged in at least 30 minutes of moderate level intensity sport, at least three times a week.
	29.7 per cent. of people aged 60 and over had participated in an active sport at least once in the last four weeks.

Sports: Elderly

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the top 10 sports are in terms of active participation by the over 60s.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data from the DCMS 2005-06 'Taking Part' survey showed that the top 10 sports in terms of participation by people aged 60 and over are:
	1. Swimming or diving (indoors)
	2. Golf, pitch and putt, putting
	3. Health, fitness, gym or conditioning activities
	4. Swimming or diving (outdoors)
	5. Cycling for health, recreation, training, competition
	6. Keep fit, aerobics
	7. Snooker, pool, billiards (excluding bar billiards)
	8. Bowls (lawn) (outdoors)
	9. Bowls (indoors)
	10. Ten-pin bowling

Sports: National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for funding from  (a) sports and  (b) arts lottery distributors were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The figures in the following tables show the number of grants awarded and are derived from the Lottery Grants Database. My Department does not hold information on the number of unsuccessful applications.
	 (a) Sports Distributors
	
		
			  Sport England 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 535 
			 1998-99 470 
			 1999-2000 2,650 
			 2000-01 4,238 
			 2001-02 4,810 
			 2002-03 944 
			 2003-04 722 
			 2004-05 727 
			 2005-06 606 
			 2006-07 306 
		
	
	
		
			  Sports Council Northern Ireland 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 349 
			 1998-99 310 
			 1999-2000 223 
			 2000-01 212 
			 2001-02 211 
			 2002-03 242 
			 2003-04 167 
			 2004-05 338 
			 2005-06 299 
			 2006-07 146 
		
	
	
		
			  Sports Council Wales 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 99 
			 1998-99 60 
			 1999-2000 70 
			 2000-01 125 
			 2001-02 167 
			 2002-03 216 
			 2003-04 139 
			 2004-05 69 
			 2005-06 1,166 
			 2006-07 1,677 
		
	
	
		
			  Sport Scotland 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 114 
			 1998-99 566 
			 1999-2000 967 
			 2000-01 817 
			 2001-02 962 
			 2002-03 1,016 
			 2003-04 591 
			 2004-05 530 
			 2005-06 500 
			 2006-07 421 
		
	
	
		
			  UK Sport 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 2 
			 1998-99 2 
			 1999-2000 97 
			 2000-01 676 
			 2001-02 1,211 
			 2002-03 1,304 
			 2003-04 1,013 
			 2004-05 1,113 
			 2005-06 526 
			 2006-07 1,144 
		
	
	 (b) Arts Distributors
	
		
			  Arts Council England 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 4,016 
			 1998-99 806 
			 1999-2000 1,966 
			 2000-01 2,991 
			 2001-02 3,743 
			 2002-03 1,751 
			 2003-04 3,285 
			 2004-05 3,295 
			 2005-06 3,305 
			 2006-07 2,271 
		
	
	
		
			  Arts Council Wales 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 333 
			 1998-99 125 
			 1999-2000 512 
			 2000-01 467 
			 2001-02 633 
			 2002-03 655 
			 2003-04 545 
			 2004-05 580 
			 2005-06 766 
			 2006-07 577 
		
	
	
		
			  Arts Council Northern Ireland 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 107 
			 1998-99 88 
			 1999-2000 107 
			 2000-01 69 
			 2001-02 257 
			 2002-03 367 
			 2003-04 350 
			 2004-05 433 
			 2005-06 417 
			 2006-07 538 
		
	
	
		
			  Scottish Arts Council 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98 242 
			 1998-99 554 
			 1999-2000 545 
			 2000-01 433 
			 2001-02 654 
			 2002-03 1,211 
			 2003-04 1,384 
			 2004-05 1,350 
			 2005-06 435 
			 2006-07 593 
		
	
	
		
			  UK Film Council 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98  
			 1998-99  
			 1999-2000 23 
			 2000-01 72 
			 2001-02 333 
			 2002-03 697 
			 2003-04 991 
			 2004-05 958 
			 2005-06 1,138 
			 2006-07 1,180 
		
	
	
		
			  Scottish Screen 
			  Financial year  Total number of Grants 
			 1997-98  
			 1998-99  
			 1999-2000  
			 2000-01 69 
			 2001-02 92 
			 2002-03 100 
			 2003-04 110 
			 2004-05 76 
			 2005-06 97 
			 2006-07 50

Sportsgrounds: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many competition athletics tracks there are in  (a) Nottinghamshire and  (b) England.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Active Places database indicates that there are 224 athletics tracks in England with six or more lanes and floodlighting. Five of these tracks are located in Nottinghamshire.

Swimming Pools

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Olympic-standard swimming pools there are in England; and where each is located.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There are currently 37 Olympic-standard (50 m) swimming pools in England. The following table details where they are located:
	
		
			   Indoor  Outdoor 
			 North West Manchester x 2  
			  Stockport  
			  Wigan  
			
			 East Norwich Cambridge 
			
			 South East Crawley Guildford 
			  High Wycombe Chalfort, Buckinghamshire 
			  Aldershot Portsmouth 
			   Oxford 
			   Hitchin, Hertfordshire 
			   Letchworth, Hertfordshire 
			   Newbury 
			
			 East Midlands Loughborough Peterborough 
			
			 South West Bath Penzance 
			  Millfield Plymouth 
			   Torbay 
			   Cheltenham 
			   Lymington Spa 
			
			 London Crystal Palace (temporarily closed till June 2008) Brockwell 
			  Ealing Charlton 
			   Haringey 
			   Hackney 
			   Parliament Hill 
			   Tooting Bee 
			   Royal Parks (Serpentine) 
			
			 West Midlands Coventry  
			
			 Yorkshire Leeds  
			  Sheffield  
		
	
	A further three 50 m indoor pools are under construction and another is at the planning stage.

Swimming Pools

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many diving pools there are in England; and where each is located.

Gerry Sutcliffe: According to the Active Places database there are 64 diving pools in England (and one planned to open shortly in Leeds). The following table shows where the 64 are located:
	
		
			   Region 
			 Bedford East 
			 Cambridge East 
			 Colchester East 
			 Hatfield East 
			 Hemel Hempstead East 
			 Hertford East 
			 Peterborough East 
			 Southend-On-Sea East 
			 Derby East Midlands 
			 Hinckley East Midlands 
			 Lincoln East Midlands 
			 Nottingham East Midlands 
			 Rutland East Midlands 
			 Spalding East Midlands 
			 Barnet London 
			 Crouch End London 
			 Crystal Palace (temporarily closed) London 
			 Waltham Forest London 
			 Darlington North East 
			 Hartlepool North East 
			 South Shields North East 
			 Sunderland North East 
			 Whitley Bay North East 
			 Bury North West 
			 Manchester North West 
			 Oldham North West 
			 Abingdon South East 
			 Alton South East 
			 Dartford South East 
			 Eastbourne South East 
			 Gillingham South East 
			 Gravesend South East 
			 Guildford South East 
			 Havant South East 
			 Leatherhead South East 
			 Maidstone South East 
			 Oxford South East 
			 Reading South East 
			 Southampton South East 
			 Swanley South East 
			 Tunbridge Wells South East 
			 Worthing South East 
			 Barnstaple South West 
			 Bristol South West 
			 Cheltenham South West 
			 Plymouth South West 
			 Poole South West 
			 Redruth South West 
			 St. Austell South West 
			 Coventry West Midlands 
			 Hereford West Midlands 
			 Ludlow West Midlands 
			 Solihull West Midlands 
			 Stafford West Midlands 
			 Sutton Coldfield West Midlands 
			 Worcester West Midlands 
			 Barnsley Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Bradford Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Grimsby Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Harrogate Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Leeds x2 Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Rotherham Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 Sheffield Yorkshire and the Humber

Swimming Pools

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public swimming pools have  (a) closed and  (b) opened in England since 1997; and how many of the pools that have opened since 1997 reopened after refurbishment or temporary closure rather than opened for the first time.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on pool closures across England was not collected centrally prior to 2004. However, the most recent information from Sport England indicates that a total of 37 pools (not sites) in local authority ownership were closed between 2004 and 2006.
	The Active Places database of sports facilities across England (established in 2004) currently lists 211 pools (not sites) that have been newly built between 1997 and 2006, of which 56 were built between 2004 and 2006. In addition, the database lists a further 1,237 local authority owned pools built before 1997 but refurbished between 1997 and 2006.

Volunteers: Recruitment

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) young volunteers trained to work in schools and community clubs and  (b) trained adult mentors were recruited (i) before and (ii) since April 2004.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The 2005-06 Annual School Sport Survey indicates that 13 per cent. of pupils in years 10-13 are actively engaged in sports volunteering and leadership. This equates to 285,631 pupils. This is an increase of 4 per cent. on the numbers surveyed for the first survey in 2003-04 and an increase of 2 per cent. from last year.
	This number includes participants in the Step into Sport Programme, one of the eight strands of the National School Sport Strategy. Through Step into Sport, the Government are providing a simple framework of co-ordinated opportunities at a local level in schools and local communities for young people to begin an involvement in leadership and volunteering through sport.
	The Youth Sport Trust deliver the programme and advise that from its launch in 2002 until 2004 4,000 young people aged 14 to 19 registered as Community Volunteers and a further 2,000 young people volunteered to take part in the planning, organisation and delivery of sporting festivals for local primary schools Between 2004 and 2007, 29,720 young people have registered as volunteers in sport at school or communities.
	As part of Step into Sport, there are now 973 Young Ambassadors aged 16 years in place, in 449 School Sport Partnerships (two in each Partnership), all helping to spread the Olympic and Paralympic message and ideals within School Sport Partnerships, as well as acting as advocates and role models to other young people. Of the two young people in each Partnership, one is also a gifted and talented athlete.
	Between 2002-04 YST figures indicate that SiS developed 600 school based adult mentors and a further 1,068 from 2004-07.

Written Questions

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to answer question  (a) 148539 on civil servants and  (b) 148535 on advertising: gambling, tabled by the hon. Member for Bath on 4 July 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Both questions were answered on 3 October.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Patrick McFadden: ACAS currently employs two permanent communications professionals to carry out its media and marketing activity. Both are Government Communication Network (GCN) professionals, with the media and marketing manager operating at Senior Information Officer level and their deputy at Information Officer level. Neither is a full-time press officer, but both combine press duties as part of their overall role. This includes operating an out-of-hours service for the media.

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007 Directive

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many responses he has received to the consultation on the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007 Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department received 75 responses to its consultation on draft Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007, which implement the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC). These included consumer bodies, businesses and business organisations, trading standards departments, regulators, professional institutions and academics.
	We are currently analysing the responses and the Government hope to publish their response in October, including what changes they proposes to make to the draft regulations.

East of England Development Agency: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the East of England Development Agency.

Stephen Timms: Three.

Export Credits Guarantee Department: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Patrick McFadden: All ECGD's media relations are handled by the Department's head of communications.

South West Development Agency: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the South West Development Agency.

Stephen Timms: Three.

Accommodation Address Agencies

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what evaluation he has made of the abuse of accommodation address agencies by perpetrators of  (a) consumer fraud and  (b) other criminal activity relating to the responsibilities of his Department.

Gareth Thomas: There has been no such evaluation. We are discussing with a range of interested parties whether Government intervention is appropriate.

Advantage West Midlands: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by Advantage West Midlands.

Stephen Timms: Three

Bankruptcy: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people declared themselves bankrupt in Cambridgeshire in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: The number of bankruptcies in Cambridgeshire classified according to postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals can be seen in the following table. The accuracy of these statistics is thus as reliable as the postcode information supplied, which is subject to elements of missing and inaccurate data.
	
		
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Cambridgeshire 216 294 391 526 661

Barbara Thomas Judge

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the availability of Barbara Thomas Judge to undertake her functions as Chair of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 Lady Thomas Judge keeps BERR officials fully up to date with her non-executive, advisory and charity roles and provides a breakdown of the time involved. Ministers are briefed as appropriate and my right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) was most recently given advice in July soon after he became Secretary of State.
	We continue to be fully satisfied that Lady Thomas Judge is performing the role of UKAEA chair highly effectively and with full dedication. As such the UK taxpayer is being well served and gets considerably more than the two days per week for which Lady Thomas Judge is contracted.

Bevin Boys

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many surviving Bevin Boys he estimates there to be.

Stephen Timms: Between the years 1943 and 1948 approximately 48,000 men served in the mines as ballotees, volunteers or optants under the Bevin Boys scheme. Based on the uptake for the Ministry of Defences' HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge it is estimated that there might be in the region of 6,000 to 11,000 claims for the Bevin Boys Veteran's Badge.

British Nuclear Fuels: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by  (a) the British Nuclear Group and  (b) British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Malcolm Wicks: Following the strategy announced by the Secretary of State for the British Nuclear Group businesses in October 2006, all corporate activities previously undertaken by British Nuclear Group have been transferred to its parent company BNFL. BNFL has a small corporate centre to oversee its businesses and manage the ongoing restructuring, which includes one press officer. The subsidiary businesses of BNFL, namely Sellafield, Nexia Solutions and Project Services, employ 7.5 full-time equivalent press officers.

Broadband

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the likely costs of implementing a universal service obligation on communications providers to ensure all customer requests for broadband connections are met.

Stephen Timms: No such assessment has been made.
	The EU Commission is reviewing the scope and future of universal service in 2008 and we expect to consult widely with all stakeholders in preparing the UK's response.

Broadband

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with Ofcom and the communications industry about a universal service obligation which would include broadband as well as narrowband services.

Stephen Timms: No such discussions have taken place. Two UK telephone operators have a universal service obligation (USO); BT and Kingston Communications.
	The EU Commission is reviewing the scope and future of universal service in 2008 and we plan to consult widely, including with Ofcom and the communications industry in preparing the UK's response.

Broadcasting

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the TG4 Group proposals for a pan-European sub band of spectrum for mobile use; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Certification Office for Trade Union and Employers' Associations: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Certification Office for Trade Union and Employers' Associations.

Patrick McFadden: The Certification Office for Trade Union and Employers' Associations employs no press officers.

Companies House: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by Companies House.

Stephen Timms: Companies House has two press officers, neither of whom work exclusively on press issues.

Companies: Radioactive Materials

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department has given advice to businesses on the storage of commercial radiological materials.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 September 2007
	The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not give advice to businesses on the storage of radiological materials.
	Regulatory guidance is provided on the respective websites of the Environment Agency (EA) (www.enviromnent-agency.gov.uk) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (www.hse.gov.uk). Guidance can also be found on the environment agencies website for small businesses at www.netregs.gov.uk giving free environmental guidance to small businesses in the UK to help them comply with environmental legislation.
	HSE has a statutory responsibility to provide advice and this would include advice on the storage of radiological materials. Businesses can therefore contact HSE for guidance and they can also contact the Environment Agency.

Competition Commission: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Competition Commission.

Gareth Thomas: There are two press officers in the Competition Commission.

Computers: Waste Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the guidance issued to Government Departments on the steps to be taken to dispose of redundant information technology equipment.

Malcolm Wicks: The guidance on the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations which was published in February 2007, contained advice for both business and domestic users on the disposal of redundant equipment. Further advice specifically for Government procurement officers is to issue shortly.

Copyright: Consumers

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the level of protection afforded to consumers from copycat branding; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will introduce legislation to enable companies to address grievances relating to copycat branding through the civil courts; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, which implement the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD), include provisions prohibiting copycat branding which is likely to confuse consumers into taking a transactional decision they would not have taken otherwise.
	In response to the December 2005 consultation on implementation of the UCPD the Government said that they did not propose to allow businesses to take enforcement action for breaches of the directive. This is because it believed that existing arrangements are adequate for dealing with cases that result in real consumer detriment.
	A number of responses to the May 2007 consultation on the draft regulations asked the Government to reconsider their decision not to allow companies to take civil (injunctive) action to enforce the provisions copycat branding. We are carefully considering all the responses received before coming to a final decision on how the regulations should best be enforced in the interests of consumers.

Departments: Departmental Coordination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what  (a) ministerial committees and  (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by his Department to liaise with the Minister for Women.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 12 September 2007
	The Prime Minister announced the new Cabinet Committee structure on 23 July 2007. The Domestic Affairs (Communities and Equalities) Committee, chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was one of the new Committees. The terms of reference for DA(CE) are:
	To consider policy relating to community issues, including community cohesion, equalities, wellbeing and public health; and report as necessary to the Committee on Domestic Affairs and the Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development.
	This Department has not set up any committees or permanent groups involving senior civil servants specifically to liaise with the Ministers for Women.
	As with all cross cutting issues, Ministers and officials in this Department liaise with the Minister for Women as necessary.

Departments: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of people employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are disabled.

Gareth Thomas: The proportion of people employed by my department and its agencies who have declared a disability or long term health condition as at 1 September 2007 is shown as follows.
	
		
			   Staff in post  Staff who have declared a disability/long-term health condition  Percentage of staff with a declared disability/long-term health condition 
			 BERR Core 2,464 197 8 
			 BERR including UK Trade and Investment and Office of Manpower Economics 2,958 237 8 
			 National Weights and Measures Laboratory 54 0 0 
			 The Insolvency Service 2,433 327 13 
			 UK Intellectual Property Office 998 19 2

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was spent by his Department on staff away days in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: Centrally held records do not distinguish between these events and other training and development activities and the information is therefore not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was spent by his Department on  (a) staff training and  (b) communication training in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has only been in existence since 28 June 2007. However, we have aggregated the training spend of the staff who now form BERR and for the 12-month period July 2006 to June 2007 it was 2,782,090.
	Training budgets are devolved so it is not possible to calculate how much of this spend was on communications training.

Digital Broadcasting: Television

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many television signal reception installers had signed up to the registered digital installer scheme at 30 June 2007, broken down by ITV television region.

Stephen Timms: Information recorded at 30 June 2007 by the Registered Digital Installer-Licensing Body is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  ITV region  Enrolled/registered for training  Registered digital installers (RDIs)  Associate RDIs 
			 Anglia 137 0 4 
			 Border 57 0 4 
			 Central 269 13 20 
			 Grampian 20 1 1 
			 Granada 215 0 22 
			 HTV Wales 97 15 10 
			 HTV West 42 0 4 
			 London 354 1 9 
			 Meridian 166 0 15 
			 Scottish TV 88 0 0 
			 Tyne Tees 37 0 8 
			 Ulster 13 0 0 
			 West Country 56 0 5 
			 Yorkshire 414 36 6 
			 Total 1,965 66 108 
		
	
	The number of accredited installers is now increasing week-by-week and, as at 23 July 2007, there were 82 RDIs.
	The associate RDI scheme, which is mentioned in the table, has been launched by the RDI Licensing Body as a temporary measure given the need for consumers to be able to identify honest and reliable aerial installers in the interim before significant numbers of installers gain full RDI qualification. Associate RDIs have met the following criteria:
	have enrolled or given a commitment to enrol for relevant NVQ training;
	have undertaken and met the requirements of a suitable Working at Heights course;
	have a minimum of one years relevant work experience within the aerial industry;
	provided evidence of a satisfactory Basic Criminal Records Disclosure and Public Liability insurance.

Electrical Control Equipment: Waste Disposal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to raise awareness among householders about the safe disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

Malcolm Wicks: Householders will get information about the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment in a variety of ways: through the media; from retailers, when they buy a new electrical item; and via their local council. Surrey county council for example has already updated its website to provide residents with information about waste electrical equipment.

Electricity Generation: Wind Power

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent estimate he has made of the stability risk threshold for the national grid in terms of  (a) total measured output and  (b) percentage of total electricity produced from wind turbines; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 17 September 2007
	Advice from National Grid, the GB System Operator, is that the percentage of total electrical energy that can be produced by wind generation is likely to be limited by economic rather than technical considerations and that any limit will lie beyond the Government's current renewable targets or aspirations. This view is supported by evidence from abroad, with a number of countries having achieved, in percentage terms, the wind generation output that the UK currently aspires to.

Energy: Research

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much of the 500 million committed to capital grants and research and development in the field of emerging low carbon technologies has been spent, broken down by technology.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 Spend so far (to end March 2007) under the programmes listed as follows, which were introduced at different points over the period, totals 208.13 million. All of these programmes except the Major PV Demonstration Programme and Clear Skies are projected to continue to spend during the CSR period and in some cases well beyond.
	Spend on the main programme activities is set out below. It has not been possible to provide a breakdown of the Clear Skies and R and D programme spend by technology.
	
		
			  Programme/technology  Spend to end 2006-07 ( million) 
			 Off-shore Wind capital grant programme 76.35 
			 Bioenergy capital grant programme 26.02 
			 Major PV Demonstration Programme 30.1 
			 Clear Skies (Micro wind, Biomass, Heat Pumps, Micro hydro, Solar Thermal Hot Water) 12.1 
			 Marine Renewable Deployment Fund 1.62 
			 Low Carbon Buildings Program Phase 1 (LCB) 4.0 
			 Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 (LCB) 0.13 
			 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells and Carbon Abatement Demonstration Programme (HFCAT) 0.11 
			 New and Renewables R and D programme/Technology Programme 57.7 
			 Total 208.13

Equal Opportunities Commission: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission, including its Northern Ireland office.

Barbara Follett: I have been asked to reply.
	There are four press officers employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission for England, Scotland and Wales. The Equal Opportunities Commission does not have an office in Northern Ireland.

EU Internal Trade: Yorkshire and Humberside

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many jobs in  (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and  (b) York he estimates are dependent on exports to or investment from other EU states.

Stephen Timms: No such estimates have been made.
	In the year ended March 2007 HM Revenue and Customs recorded exports from Yorkshire and the Humber to the EU totalling 7.2 billion out of a total export figure of 12.3 billion for the region. Exports to the EU therefore accounted for 59 per cent. of the total. This excludes exports of services and lower value exports which are not recorded by HM Revenue and Customs.
	On foreign direct investment, there are 595 EU owned companies in Yorkshire and the Humber of which 16 are based in York. Over 1,700 new or safeguarded jobs were generated by new companies investing in Yorkshire and the Humber during 2006-07. Of this figure, investment by companies based in other EU states contributed 202 jobs. However, none of the EU investments were in York.

Flexible Working

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to introduce a duty on employers to provide flexible working arrangements.

Patrick McFadden: The Government encourage all types of flexible working across the workforce by providing detailed guidance, promoting the benefits and encouraging the sharing of best practice. We introduced the right to request flexible working, for parents of young and disabled children in April 2003. In April 2007 we extended this right to carers of adults. Over six million employees now have the statutory right to ask to work flexibly.
	There is no evidence to suggest that we should place a duty on employers to provide flexible working arrangements. The right to request flexible working has been a huge success with four out of five requests accepted by employers. 87 per cent. of all employees are satisfied with their current working patterns and 90 per cent. of employees said that at least one flexible working arrangement was available to them if they needed it. We will continue to monitor the impact of the flexible working law.

Gas Distribution Price Control Review

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what information Ofgem took into account on the customer satisfaction performance indicators for the gas distribution networks in compiling its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013; what steps Ofgem took to assess the implications of its proposals for the service provided to customers prior to their publication; and what factors Ofgem took into account in assessing the implications of its proposals for customer satisfaction;
	(2)  what factors Ofgem took into account in assessing the safety implications of its proposals prior to developing its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013;
	(3)  what factors Ofgem took into account on the safety performance indicators for the gas distribution networks in compiling its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013.

Stephen Timms: The Gas Distribution Price Control Review is a matter for Ofgem. I am therefore asking the chief executive of the Gas and Electricity Markets, which heads Ofgem, to write directly to the hon. Member.

Gas Distribution Price Control Review

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what Ofgem considers to be the implications to the consumer of the gas distribution networks being unable to replace their ageing and highly-skilled workforces by recruiting and training a sufficient number of new employees to carry out vital emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
	(2)  what factors Ofgem took into account in compiling its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013, with particular reference to the allowances granted to allow gas distribution network operators to recruit new employees to carry out emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
	(3)  how many gas distribution networks made representations to Ofgem prior to it publishing Document 125/07, initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013; and how many sought an additional allowance to allow them to recruit new employees to carry out emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
	(4)  what additional allowance Ofgem made in its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013 to allow the gas distribution network operators to recruit and train new employees to carry out emergency, repair and maintenance activities;
	(5)  what steps Ofgem took to assess the safety implications of its proposals for  (a) the consumer and  (b) employees of the gas distribution networks prior to publishing Document 125/07, containing its initial proposals for the Gas Distribution Price Control Review for 2008 to 2013.

Stephen Timms: The Gas Distribution Price Control Review is a matter for Ofgem. I am therefore asking the Chief Executive of the Gas and Electricity Markets, which heads Ofgem, to write directly to the hon. Member.

Loans: Protection

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will take steps to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people by home credit companies.

Gareth Thomas: The Competition Commission has been investigating the home credit sector and is now implementing remedies intended to make the market more competitive so that customers of home credit companies will get a better deal.
	More generally, the Government have recently strengthened consumer credit legislation. A prime purpose of these reforms is to protect consumers from unfair treatment by lenders, whether in the home credit sector or by other credit providers.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Patrick McFadden: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) does not employ a press officer as such, but the NDA's head of communications and three communications managers cover a range of duties which by their nature include press relations.

Ofcom: Information Officers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by Ofcom.

Stephen Timms: I am informed by the chief executive of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) that there are six members of staff in the regulator's media office, one of whom is part-time.

Office of Fair Trading: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Office of Fair Trading.

Gareth Thomas: The OFT employs six press officers, one of whom is responsible for media handling for Consumer Directthe Government's national consumer advice line.

Oil: Prices

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the average price of oil was in each of the last 15 years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of trends in oil prices on business.

Patrick McFadden: Oil is a globally traded commodity and the rise in oil prices over recent years has affected all countries, not just the UK. Moreover, while the Government recognise that in recent years higher and more volatile oil prices have created problems for UK businesses, by increasing production costs and adding pressure to profit margins, several factors have helped limit the impact. Firstly, in real terms (current prices), oil prices have remained below the peak levels reached in the late-1970s and early 1980s. Secondly, the rise in oil prices has in part been driven by strong global economic growth. Thirdly, UK businesses typically now have a lower intensity to use oil, given improvements in energy efficiency and the shift in the structure of the economy towards services. Finally, developments in financial markets have allowed businesses to hedge against the risks associated with fluctuations in oil prices more effectively.
	The 2007 Energy White Paper (http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/) sets out the measures the Government are putting in place to help improve the functioning of the global oil market, and to ensure that the UK's domestic market framework and supply infrastructure continue to deliver reliable supplies of oil-based energy at competitive prices, as they have done over the last 15 years.
	
		
			  Average price of oil acquired by UK refineries in nominal ($/bbl and /bbl) and real  (/bbl) prices 
			   Nominal prices $/bbl  Nominal prices /bbl  Real 2006 prices /bbl 
			 1992 19.5 10.9 15.4 
			 1993 17.1 11.4 15.6 
			 1994 15.8 10.3 14.1 
			 1995 17.3 11.0 14.5 
			 1996 21.0 13.4 17.2 
			 1997 19.3 11.8 14.7 
			 1998 12.8 7.7 9.3 
			 1999 17.9 11.0 13.1 
			 2000 28.6 18.9 22.1 
			 2001 24.5 17.0 19.4 
			 2002 24.7 16.4 18.2 
			 2003 29.1 17.8 19.1 
			 2004 37.8 20.6 21.6 
			 2005 53.8 29.7 30.4 
			 2006 64.7 35.2 35.2 
			 YTD 2007 65.5 33.0  
			  Notes: 1. Prices for supplies received by refineries in the UK from both indigenous and imported sources. 2. Real 2006 prices calculated using the GDP deflator.  Source:  BERR

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, from which countries he expects the UK to derive its future requirements for oil in the next  (a) five,  (b) 10 and  (c) 15 years.

Patrick McFadden: Oil is traded in a global market where prices and availability are determined by global supply and demand conditions.
	As domestic oil production declines, the UK will continue to rely on the global oil market to source its supplies, allowing companies to have access to a diverse range of suppliers. Commercial reasons, for example geographical proximity, mean that in addition to Norway, Russia and the Middle East, increasing supplies are also likely to be sourced, via the market, from producers in the Caspian region and Africa over the next 15 years.

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, what estimate he has made of the duration of future  (a) oil and  (b) natural gas supply from all known sources from UK-based extractive sources.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not estimate the duration of remaining discovered recoverable reserves of oil or gas. Production from the UK Continental Shelf is expected to continue for many years, though at a declining rate.

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, if he will assess the merits of reviewing the analysis of those who promote a peak oil perspective of future oil supply.

Patrick McFadden: The Department will continue to keep abreast of, and to take into account, developing views and analysis surrounding future trends in the oil market, including in relation to future oil supplies.

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, what assessment he has made of the implications of recent increases in crude oil prices for his Department's calculations of oil supply.

Patrick McFadden: Global investment in oil production capacity has increased in recent years, resulting in an expected increase in future global oil production capacity. Higher oil pricesby increasing the finances available to oil companies and by improving the economics of higher cost projectsare one of the contributory factors but it is not possible to quantify the specific contribution. A range of other factors also interact to determine the level of investment and therefore future global oil supply, including technological developments, governments' policies, supply chain costs, and other energy prices.
	Domestically, the Department publishes projections of UK oil production every six months or so (most recently at http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/information/bb_updates/chapters/Section4_17.htm) and these reflect operators' views of future oil prices. The projections change for a number of reasons and, once again, it is not possible to attribute a specific contribution from recent increases in crude oil prices.

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, what challenges he has assessed as representing the greatest impediment to affordable oil supply to the UK in the next  (a) five,  (b) 10 and  (c) 15 years.

Patrick McFadden: The 2007 Energy White Paper:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/
	sets out the main international (chapter 1) and domestic (chapter 4) challenges facing the UK in ensuring its supplies of oil remain affordable and reliable.
	Internationally, the main challenge lies in recovering and bringing oil reserves to market. A number of factors have the potential to defer or restrict the level of future oil sector investment, undermining the affordability and reliability of supplies:
	resource nationalism;
	inadequate oil market information;
	regulatory uncertainty;
	the threat of terrorism, accident and natural disaster; and
	labour, equipment and service sector constraints.
	The Government are promoting international efforts to improve the functioning and transparency of the global oil market, and to tackle these barriers to investment.
	Domestically, the main challenge is ensuring that UK oil infrastructure is able to cope with declining UK production and evolving trends in demand. Given the high volumes of oil the UK already imports, existing infrastructure is well placed to cope with higher volumes. However, UK refineries will need to respond to the challenges of:
	rising demand for diesel and jet fuel and falling demand for petrol;
	declining availability of North sea crude oils; and
	evolving qualities of oil products, including the introduction of biofuels.
	The Government will continue to work closely with UK refiners as they address these challenges. The Government have also established with industry an aviation fuel task group to analyse what supply infrastructure may be needed to meet future jet fuel demand at UK airports up to 2030. Finally, we have taken steps to ensure our oil emergency stocking system is better placed to deal with the increasing levels of oil import dependence we face.

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, how many years of oil supply the Government have estimated are available to  (a) the international community and  (b) the UK in the forthcoming (i) five, (ii) 10, (iii) 15 and (iv) more than 15 years at present rates of usage.

Patrick McFadden: The Department's view is that global oil resources are sufficient to sustain not only current rates of global usage but also the expected increase in usage for the foreseeable future. Supplies will be made available to the international community and the UK through the market mechanism, with the exact level depending on the complex interaction of a number of factors, including technological developments, economic growth, the policies of Governments, and relative energy prices.

Oil: Reserves

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on oil: reserves, what assessment he has made of the affordability of oil supplies to the UK in the next  (a) five,  (b) 10 and  (c) 15 years.

Patrick McFadden: Global oil market tightness is expected to ease slightly over the next few years as new production and refining capacity is brought on-stream. However, given the complexity of contributory factors, the implications for international oil prices are uncertain. However, most analysts do not expect oil prices to make a sustained return to the average levels seen during the 1990s (around US$25 per barrel in today's prices), reflecting an expected increase in the market share of a relatively small number of producers, strong demand growth from developing countries, investment constraints, and a rise in marginal production costs outside OPEC.

One Northeast Communications Team: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the One Northeast communications team.

Stephen Timms: Five.

Post Offices

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether those served by outreach post offices and non-commercial post office outlets will count as part of the 90 per cent. of the population to be within one mile of their nearest post office outlet in the access criteria set by Post Office Ltd.

Patrick McFadden: In measuring compliance with the access criterion that 90 per cent. of the UK population be within one mile of their nearest post office outlet, proximity to all categories of post office including outreach sites will be taken into account.

Post Offices

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what minimum level of service provision will be required of post office outlets for the 90 per cent. of the population who are to be within one mile of their nearest outlet.

Patrick McFadden: Decisions about local service offerings and opening hours at post offices are a matter for Post Office Ltd. and local sub-postmasters, reflecting the needs and demand in local communities. It is not appropriate to seek to set national standards for matters which are best considered at local level.

Post Offices

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether Post Office Ltd is considering the use of church premises for new post offices to replace some of the post offices that are to be closed in rural communities.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd will consider any premises which are suitably located and accessible as prospective sites in areas where new or outreach post offices are to be established.

Post Offices: Closures

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will inform hon. Members, local residents and local authorities contemporaneously of consultations on post office closure plans; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd will inform Members of Parliament of its area network change proposals in the week before the start of local consultation and local authorities will be invited to engage with the company on its proposals before local consultation commences.

Post Offices: Closures

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether any local authority or hon. Member has been formally contacted on the consultation on post office closure plans; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd wrote to all Members of Parliament and to local authorities in July explaining the process they will be following in implementing the network change programme and giving the expected timetable for considering the area plan in each constituency or local authority area.

Post Offices: Disadvantaged

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions his Department  (a) has had and  (b) plans to have with (i) RNIB, (ii) RNID, (iii) Age Concern and (iv) Help the Aged on the implications of the transfer of Crown post office services to WH Smith branches for people with disabilities.

Patrick McFadden: The Department has held no such discussions. Under the Code of Practice agreed with Postwatch, Post Office Ltd. consults with a range of local representatives on the customer service implications of transferring the management of a specific Crown office to a franchise partner. In addition, Postwatch has a statutory duty to protect, promote and develop the interests of all customers of postal services in the UK and a special duty to represent vulnerable groups including the elderly and disabled. Postwatch therefore meets regularly with groups such as Help the Aged, RNIB, Age Concern etc. to understand the concerns affecting the network and report these to Post Office Ltd.
	The Post Office Ltd. franchise agreement establishes a contractual obligation for WH Smith to comply with the requirements of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and appropriate health and safety legislation.

Post Offices: Disadvantaged

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions his Department plans to have with the Post Office Ltd. and WH Smith on changes to chip and pin services in WH Smith branches to meet the needs of blind and visually impaired customers.

Patrick McFadden: Post office branches located within WH Smith will have the same pin pads as those found in all post office branches across the UK. To assist blind and visually impaired customers, these pin pads have a raised transparent dot on the 5 key, a plastic guard covering the function keys at the top of the pad and raised symbols alongside the clear, enter and cancel keys.
	Post Office Ltd. have worked with the RNIB to produce a leaflet entitled How to use the PIN Pad at a Post Office branch which is available from RNIB, or from the Post Office on 0845 722 3344. The Post Office card account was one of the first cards in the UK to feature an RNIB recommended cut away indent on its trailing edge to help blind users orient the card. It also has a black arrow to help guide insertion, chosen as easiest to see by a group of visually impaired people.

Post Offices: Disadvantaged

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the agreement between Post Office Ltd. and WH Smith involves WH Smith assuming a responsibility to publish a disability equality scheme and carry out a disability equality impact assessment.

Patrick McFadden: For the purpose of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, Post Office Ltd. is not considered to be a public authority, does not have specific obligations under the Disability Equality duty and is not required to publish a disability equality scheme.
	Disability access is a priority for Post Office Ltd., and they are working with WH Smith to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to ensure reasonable adjustments are made and that the Disability Discrimination Act is complied with. To meet the requirements of the Act, WH Smith carried out audits at all their sites to asses their accessibility for disabled customers and employees and have spent around 1.5 million on improving access to meet the regulations. In addition Post Office Ltd. and WH Smith are signed up to the website www.directenquiries.com--a register of the access available in all their stores. Customers are encouraged to give feedback on the standards of service and access in WH Smith stores. This feedback will be monitored to ensure that appropriate reasonable adjustments are put in place to ensure disabled access to post office services.

Post Offices: Disadvantaged

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy to ensure that alternative locations for post offices that Royal Mail propose for closure will not result in a deterioration in standards of access for people with disabilities.

Stephen Timms: Disability access to Crown post offices is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. acting in compliance with the requirements of the disability discrimination legislation.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the planned location of new outreach post offices within West Dorset constituency.

Patrick McFadden: No proposals or decisions have yet been made on any new outreach post office locations in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of post offices planned for closure within West Dorset constituency are in  (a) rural and  (b) urban areas.

Patrick McFadden: No proposals or decisions have yet been made on post office closures in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd. is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the timescale is for planned post office closures within West Dorset constituency in the period up to the end of 2009.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd. wrote to all Members of Parliament in July explaining the process they will be following in implementing the network change programme and giving the expected timetable for considering the area plan in their constituency. I understand from the company that it expects to engage with sub-postmasters in the process of developing specific proposals for West Dorset in April 2008.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many outreach post offices will open in West Dorset constituency during the planned post office closure programme.

Patrick McFadden: No proposals or decisions have yet been made on how many outreach post office locations may be established in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd. is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices are planned for closure within West Dorset constituency.

Patrick McFadden: No proposals or decisions have yet been made on post office closures in West Dorset. Post Office Ltd is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) opening times and  (b) services of the new outreach post offices will be, with particular reference to the post offices to be located in the West Dorset parliamentary constituency.

Patrick McFadden: Decisions about local service offerings and opening hours at outreach post offices are a matter for Post Office Ltd and local sub-postmasters, reflecting the needs and demand in local communities both in West Dorset and across the country. It is not appropriate to seek to set national standards for matters which are best considered at local level.

Post Offices: Dorset

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the timescale is for the opening of new outreach post offices within the West Dorset parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The opening of any new outreach post offices in West Dorset will be integrated with the implementation of the wider network change programme for the area. I understand that under Post Office Ltd's planned timetable this would be in autumn 2008.

Post Offices: Tyne and Wear

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the future of the post office network in Houghton and Washington East constituency.

Patrick McFadden: No proposals or decisions have yet been made on individual post offices in Houghton and Washington East. Post Office Ltd is now progressively developing proposals for network change in area plans based on groupings of parliamentary constituencies. These will then be subject to local public consultation after input from sub-postmasters, Postwatch and local authorities. Post Office Ltd wrote to all Members of Parliament in July explaining the process they will be following in implementing the network change programme and giving the expected timetable for considering the area plan in the constituency.

Postal Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether Post Office Ltd. has negotiated agreements with suppliers of goods or services which do not allow all branches to sell those products.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 The negotiation of agreements with suppliers of goods and services is a matter for Post Office Ltd. and the suppliers, who will seek to determine the most effective way of delivering those products and services. Post Office Ltd. provide more than 170 different products and services and the vast majority are available across the national network of post office branches and many services are also now available through the internet or to order over the phone.

Postal Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the Post Office expects to publish information relating to the intention of sub-postmasters to leave the network during the local area plan consultation.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 September 2007
	The Post Office network transformation programme is required to meet the Government's access criteria and ensure a sustainable national network for the future. The programme will also consider the availability of public transport, alternative access to key services, local geography, local demographics and the impact on local economies. Closure decisions will not be determined by sub-postmasters' preferences though there will be cases where there is a strategic fit between a closure proposal and the sub-postmaster's wish to leave the network. As such, this will not form part of the information provided during the local area plan consultation. Information on branches proposed for closure will be provided by Post Office Ltd and this will be displayed on posters in branches and also available on the Post Office Ltd website.

Postal Services: Rural Areas

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the impact on the rural post office network of the decision to share the Network Subsidy Scheme with the urban post office network.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 The proposed Network Subsidy Payments will be sufficient to underpin the whole of the non-commercial network without adverse impact on the support available for the rural part of the network. In particular, Post Office Ltd. will be making further significant savings through reductions in central costs and overheads, combined with more cost effective delivery of services and the strategically planned closure of up to 2,500 offices.

Postcomm: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by Postcomm.

Patrick McFadden: I understand that Postcomm has one full-time press officer and one part-time media adviser who deals with the website.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Disposal

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how he plans to recover from the private sector the full costs of managing any new nuclear waste resulting from the operation of any new nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: If, as a result of the current consultation, the Government decide that nuclear should be one of the low carbon options available to investors, they will put in place a robust financing framework through statute to ensure owners or operators of new nuclear power stations set aside funds in a secure way to cover their full decommissioning costs and their full share of waste management costs.

Railways: Tees Valley

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make an assessment of the likely effect on economic growth of an improved modernised rail network that serves Tees Valley from Darlington.

Stephen Timms: We understand that Network Rail is discussing a number of possible improvements to the rail network in Tees Valley. It will be for scheme promoters to develop business cases with any assessments of economic impact that may be necessary.

Regional Development Agencies National Secretariat: Information Officers

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the Regional Development Agencies National Secretariat.

Stephen Timms: The RDA National Secretariat does not employ a full-time press officer. The Senior Communications Officer is responsible for press and media handling, which takes up around one third of that person's time.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of the UK's energy supply he expects to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 Projections indicate that by 2020, on the basis of existing policies, renewables would contribute around 5 per cent. of the UK's energy consumption. (The proportion of electricity generated renewably would be much greater.)
	The European Council agreed in March 2007 to a target for 20 per cent. of the EU's primary energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020. The Commission has been asked to bring forward detailed proposalsincluding for each member state's contribution to this targetby the end of this year. The proposal will then need to be agreed by member states and the European Parliament. After a decision has been reached, we will bring forward the appropriate measures to make our contribution.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations on changes to the Merton rule; what discussions he held with ministerial colleagues ahead of the announcement of those changes; and what impact he expects the changes to have on the Government's microgeneration strategy.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 We are aware of the concerns that have been raised around proposed changes to the planning system. We are working closely with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government developing policy in this area, to ensure that issues related to microgeneration are considered. No announcements have yet been made.

Renewable Energy

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the obstacles to fulfilling targets for the proportion of energy to be produced from renewable sources.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 September 2007
	 The Energy White Paper identified the need both to create the right financial framework, and to lower practical barriers relating to planning and grid connection, in the light of our target of 10 per cent. electricity from renewables by 2010 and aspiration to double this by 2020. It also outlined proposals to band the Renewables Obligation, reform the planning regime and improve renewables grid connection in order to address these barriers. In the context of renewable energy use in transport, the White Paper referred to issues of sustainability, mechanical impact and costs.
	The 2007 spring European Council agreed an overall target for 20 per cent. of the EU's energy to be from renewables by 2020. Decisions have not yet been taken on individual member states' contribution to the target, but we are already giving initial consideration to potential obstacles to further renewable deploymentsuch as cost, technical feasibility, planning constraints, grid infrastructure, sustainability, and impact on wider energy policy goalsand how these might be overcome. We will be consulting on these issues in more detail once the European Commission has issued proposals on how the EU 20 per cent. renewable energy target should be implemented.

Royal Mail: Cars

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many private cars or other non-liveried or dedicated vehicles are used by the Royal Mail in the dispatch of mail.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier the Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Royal Mail: Cars

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the level of usage of private cars or other non-liveried or dedicated vehicles by the Royal Mail to relay mailbags to postmen and women in the course of their rounds; and what guidance applies to the Royal Mail in terms of the security of such vehicles.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. Adam Crozier the Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Solicitors: Misconduct

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he intends to send an observer from his Department to the disciplinary tribunal misconduct hearings against  (a) Wake Smith and Beresfords and  (b) Raleys solicitors.

Stephen Timms: No. The Department is not aware of the dates of these hearings. We shall, though, monitor the outcomes.

South East England Development Agency: Information Officers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the South East England Development Agency.

Stephen Timms: Five.

Sustainable Development: Northstowe

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what role his Department will play in ensuring the incorporation of sustainable energy and heat distribution in the development of the eco-town at Northstowe; and what plans he has to establish monitoring arrangements to assist other eco-towns to learn from the Northstowe experience.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Northstowe predates the eco-towns programme and its planning is already progressing, but we see it as a green exemplar and it will be an advanced prototype for eco-towns. The Northstowe Masterplan is currently being reviewed ahead of submitting the planning application shortly, and the review includes consideration of sustainable energy and high energy efficiency.
	In the Eco-towns Prospectus, published on 23 July which mentions the development of the eco-town at Northstowe, we have set out the outcomes we expect to see from eco-towns. These include incorporating renewable energy systems, not just for homes, but schools, shops, offices and community facilities. We have also asked the Town and Country Planning Association to undertake a study into the practical application of the key sustainability and development criteria for eco-towns, which will draw on case studies, such as Northstowe, and this will help us to learn from the experience of others and so inform the development of eco-towns.

Television

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what percentage of new television sets sold in the UK have a screen blanking feature;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that all new television sets have a screen blanking feature.

Stephen Timms: The Government have no information on the percentage of television sets with a screen blanking feature and no plan to require television sets sold in the UK to include such a feature.
	Televisions have been identified as a priority for European action under the Energy Using Products Framework Directive (EuP) which provides a forum for considering options and priorities for establishing energy efficiency standards for energy using products. The Commission expects to bring forward proposals later this year.
	The Government are already working with business to promote and improve energy efficiency in televisions, recognising the need to respond to consumer demands in the global market, and to improve information for consumers to help them identify energy efficient products.

Trading Standards

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what rights of access trading standards officers have to  (a) planning,  (b) building control and  (c) council tax data held by the departments of local authorities.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The rights of trading standards officers to have access to personal data from local authority planning, building and council tax databases are determined by section 29 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Section 29 of the Data Protection Act provides that disclosure of personal data may take place where such disclosure is for the purposes of preventing or detecting crime, or apprehending or prosecuting offenders. Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act provides that any person who would not otherwise have the power to disclose information to a police authority or a local authority has power to do so where the disclosure is necessary or expedient for the purposes of any provision of that Act.

UK Atomic Energy Authority: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by the  (a) UK Atomic Energy Authority,  (b) North West Regional Development Agency,  (c) Ofgem and  (d) Small Business Service.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Atomic Energy Authority employ 4.5 press officers; North West Regional Development Agency five press officers; Ofgem four, and the Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Department Communications Directorate provides support for its Enterprise Directorate (previously the Small Business Service). It is not possible to give a specific figure for the Enterprise Directorate since it is an integral part of the Department and Communications Directorate allocates resource based on level of demand.

VAT: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many new VAT registrations there were in the city of Peterborough in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many VAT registered businesses there were in the city of Peterborough in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The number of new VAT registrations and VAT registered businesses in the Peterborough unitary authority are shown in the following table for 1997 to 2005. Data for registrations and de-registrations in 2006 will be published autumn 2007.
	
		
			  Number of VAT registrations and start of year stock, Peterborough  UA, 1997 to  2005 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Registrations 485 435 435 405 430 485 525 430 535  
			 Start of year stock 3,580 3,740 3,815 3,945 3,980 4,070 4,155 4,255 4,305 4,475 
			  Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2005. Available at: http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ed/vat 
		
	
	Although the number of new registrations has fluctuated over the period, the total number of VAT registered businesses in Peterborough unitary authority has increased from 3,580 in 1997 to 4,475 at the start of 2006, an increase of 895 (25 per cent.).
	VAT registration data provide the only accurate indicator of the level of start-up activity at the unitary authority level.
	However, VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was 60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (41 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Yorkshire Forward: Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many press officers are employed by Yorkshire Forward.

Stephen Timms: Four.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what role the  (a) academy sponsor and  (b) local authority plays in deciding whether an academy should be a new-build or refurbishment project.

Jim Knight: We expect that most academy projects will be a mix of new build and refurbishment unless it is agreed, by the local authority and Partnerships for Schools (PfS), that none of the school buildings is capable of supporting the delivery of the sponsor's educational vision.
	In order to determine the level of refurbishment or new build, surveys are carried out in the early stages of an academy project. In the case of projects to be delivered via the National Framework, PfS will take the lead role in carrying out these surveys with each academy being inspected and re-developed based on its individual needs. Where academies are delivered as part of BSF we would expect that LA to carry out these surveys as part of its review of school provision.
	The sponsor will be consulted on the outcome of such surveys but the final decision will rest with DCSF as part of their project approval processes.

Academies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on establishing academies in areas where local authorities object; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Office of the Schools Commissioner discusses any schools which meet academies criteria with the relevant local authority before any steps are taken to identify sponsors. Academies are, in effect, jointly commissioned by the Department and the relevant local authorities.
	Local authorities are increasingly becoming engaged in the strategic planning of multiple academies in their localities, within their wider school rebuilding and transformational strategies. Academies exemplify the new role of local authorities as commissioners rather than providers of schools. The Government are ready to engage with local authorities who wish to consider multiple academy projects as part of their strategies for transforming educational standards and opportunity.

Academies: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in each English academy  (a) were admitted on the basis of aptitude,  (b) were entitled to free school meals and  (c) secured five grades A-C at GCSE in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 July 2007
	Academies can admit pupils on the basis of aptitude for certain specialisms on the same basis as other specialist schools. The Department does not collect data on how many pupils are admitted on the basis of aptitude. The proportion of children in each academy entitled to free school meals, and the proportion gaining five or more A*-C at GGSE in 2006 are included in the following table.
	
		
			  Academy name  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals  Percentage of pupils achieving five or more A*-C at GCSE in 2006 
			 The Academy of St. Francis of Assisi 47.1 40.2 
			 St. Paul's Academy 25.6 59.1 
			 The Marlowe Academy 29.1 28.0 
			 Grace Academy 28.0 n/a 
			 John Madejski Academy 29.1 n/a 
			 Macmillan Academy(1) 25.5 92.9 
			 Dixons City Academy(1) 7.2 96.9 
			 Paddington Academy 50.8 n/a 
			 The Petchey Academy 47.8 n/a 
			 North Liverpool Academy 39.1 n/a 
			 Westminster Academy 40.9 n/a 
			 Harris Academy Bermondsey 60.6 n/a 
			 The Barnsley Academy 37.3 n/a 
			 Burlington Danes Academy 20.6 n/a 
			 Sheffield Park Academy 36.3 n/a 
			 Sheffield Springs Academy 35.0 n/a 
			 Harris Academy Merton 30.0 n/a 
			 David Young Community Academy 42.1 n/a 
			 Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich 40.5 n/a 
			 Walthamstow Academy 31.8 n/a 
			 The Gateway Academy 36.3 n/a 
			 Greig City Academy 39.1 60.7 
			 Walsall Academy 11.4 57.4 
			 Unity City Academy 45.0 33.5 
			 The Business Academy Bexley 35.9 32.3 
			 St. Mark's Church of England Academy 27.1 n/a 
			 The City Academy Bristol 44.9 49.7 
			 City of London Academy (Southwark) 34.2 n/a 
			 The King's Academy 25.3 34.8 
			 Manchester Academy 50.0 28.7 
			 The Academy at Peckham 53.1 30.1 
			 Capital City Academy 35.4 31.3 
			 Djanogly City Academy Nottingham 37.5 56.7 
			 West London Academy 46.3 47.7 
			 Mossbourne Community Academy 40.6 n/a 
			 Stockley Academy 40.3 31.9 
			 London Academy 41.3 50.9 
			 Northampton Academy 15.7 40.2 
			 Lambeth Academy 43.0 n/a 
			 Sandwell Academy 16.8 n/a 
			 The Harefield Academy 16.0 32.1 
			 Trinity Academy 15.4 33.8 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy 44.3 29.3 
			 Salford City Academy 18.0 49.5 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College(1) 21.3 93.6 
			 Landau Forte College 9.6 n/a 
			 (1)( )Former city technology colleges that have converted to academy status.   Note:  Those academies with n/a against the GCSE result column, were either not open as academies when GCSEs were taken in 2006 or were open, but were new schools with no pupils in year 11.

Academies: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether it is his policy that academies should follow local authority admissions procedures; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Academies are required, by their funding agreements, to comply with admissions law and the Department's admissions codes as though they were maintained schools. This doesn't mean that they must adopt their local authority admission arrangements. Like voluntary-aided and foundation schools, academies are responsible for determining their own admission arrangements in consultation with the local school admissions forum, on which the local authority is represented, and other local admission authorities. They must also be part of the local coordinated application process. Unlike other state funded schools, academies are required to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for their admission arrangements and before making any changes.

Academies: Capital Investment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of resources allocated to schools capital funding will go to academies in each year from 1999-2000 to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 26 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1377W, which provided details of the capital provision for academies as a proportion of the corresponding figure for all schools up to and including 2007-08. This continues to be the position. There was no spend on academies prior to 2001-02 which is the first year mentioned in that reply, and allocations have not been made beyond 2007-08.

Academies: Curriculum

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons his Department has decided to require academies to follow the national curriculum programmes of study in English, maths and IT; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State announced on 10 July 2007 that future academies will be required to follow the national curriculum programmes of study in English, maths and ICT. This is different to the previous model whereby academies had to teach English, maths, science and ICT to all pupils and the curriculum had to be broad and balanced. The change was made because the national curriculum as a whole has been made more flexible to accommodate the kind of innovation that academies have enjoyed.

Academies: General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of the improvement in GCSE results at academies, compared to their predecessor schools, is due to the increased uptake of GNVQ exams; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: A response to this question could be provided only at disproportionate cost

Academies: Governing Bodies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to require all academies to accept local authority governors on to their governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: All academies are required by their funding agreement to have at least one local authority representative on their governing body, and local authorities acting as co-sponsors of academies will usually have two governors.

Academies: Isle of Sheppey

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when the executive responsible for the federated academy on the Isle of Sheppey expects to publish its consultation plans on which specialism will be available for each school site.

Jim Knight: The September newsletter published by the Project Steering Group for this academy indicated that the dual specialisms of Business and Enterprise and Sport will be available for the whole academy on both of its sites. 10,000 copies have been circulated widely on the Island. The period of formal consultation will conclude in November at which point a Funding Agreement for the Sheppey Academy should be with us for approval. Full details of consultation and briefing events are included in the September newsletter, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Academies: Sponsorship

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many sponsors of academies have  (a) not paid and  (b) delayed paying their full contribution;
	(2)  how much is owed to the Government by academy sponsors.

Jim Knight: The following table shows, in relation to those academies with a signed funding agreement the amount of sponsorship pledged together with the related confirmed capital contribution. Notes 1 and 3 to the table identify those academies where the sponsor contribution has not been paid in full because the total contribution is not yet due to be paid. Delayed building works that have slowed the rate of sponsor contributions are identified by note 4. Significant delays for any other reason, where the Department proposes to engage the trust with a view to bringing the confirmed capital contribution back on profile, are noted at 2.
	The difference between the total amount of sponsorship pledged and the total confirmed capital contribution from sponsors, representing the amount due to be paid to Trusts over the remaining lifetime of building projects, is 64.415 million.
	
		
			  000 
			  Academy with signed funding agreement  Total sponsorship pledged  Total confirmed capital contribution from sponsor to end of August 2007 
			 Manchester 2,000 (1)1,421 
			 Lambeth 2,000 (1)1,872 
			 Northampton 2,000 (1)943 
			 Paddington 1,500 (1)429 
			 Salford 1,600 (1)214 
			 Barnsley 1,500 (1)27 
			 Walthamstow 1,500 (1)27 
			 Sheffield Springs 1,500 1,500 
			 Sheffield Park 1,000 1,000 
			 Stockport 1,500 (1)202 
			 Peckham 2,000 2,986 
			 Harris Academy South Norwood 2,000 (2)250 
			 Harris Bermondsey 1,500 (3)0 
			 Harris Merton 500 (3)0 
			 Kings 2,000 2,006 
			 Trinity, Doncaster 2,000 2,000 
			 Haberdashers'Hatcham 705 705 
			 Haberdashers'Knights 296 296 
			 Marlowe 2,735 (1)2,565 
			 Folkestone 2,250 (1)887 
			 Walsall 2,500 2,565 
			 Sandwell 2,790 (1)2,119 
			 Bexley 2,410 2,462 
			 Greig 2,000 (1)1,664 
			 Unity 2,000 1,948 
			 Capital City, Brent 2,000 1,993 
			 City of London 2,000 2,000 
			 City Academy, Bristol 2,499 (1)1,670 
			 West London, Ealing 2,000 2,000 
			 London, Barnet 1,500 1,490 
			 Mossbourne 2,150 (1)1,631 
			 Stockley 2,000 1,953 
			 St. Francis of Assisi 2,000 (2)1,187 
			 The Harefield 1,500 (4)42 
			 Dixons CTC 651 614 
			 David Young, Leeds 1,500 (2)1,000 
			 Grace, Solihull 2,000 2,000 
			 Westminster 2,000 (3)600 
			 Thomas Deacon 10,500 (3)0 
			 St. Paul'sGreenwich 2,000 (1)200 
			 John Madejski, Reading 2,000 (1)1,926 
			 The Bridge, Hackney 2,000 (4)487 
			 Samworth Enterprise 2,443 (1)1,143 
			 Petchey 2,000 (1)1,921 
			 North Liverpool 1,000 (4)0 
			 Bradford Cathedral 1,000 (3)0 
			 Macmillan 1,250 (1)400 
			 Djanogly 0 0 
			 St. Matthew Lewisham 2,000 (4)1,200 
			 Enfield 2,000 (3)56 
			 Slough Langley 2,000 (1)500 
			 Leigh Technology 2,000 (3)0 
			 St. Mary MagdaleneIslington 2,000 (1)1,000 
			 Bristol 2 Withywood 2,000 (3)0 
			 Newcastle Excelsior 2,000 2,020 
			 Corby City 2,000 (3)0 
			 Ashcroft Technology 960 (3)0 
			 Landau Forte College 460 (1)2 
			 OasisImmingham 2,000 (3)0 
			 OasisWintringham 2,000 (3)0 
			 Q3Sandwell 2,000 (3)0 
			 Burlington Danes 1,500 (3)0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,000 (3)0 
			 Brooke Weston 461 (3)0 
			 John Cabot 378 (3)0 
			 St. Mark's AcademyMerton 2,000 (5)0 
			 Total 123,538 59,123 
			 (1) Amount paid up to end August 2007 in accordance with the agreed pattern of instalments. (2) In discussion with trust with a view to agreeing payment later this year. (3) None due to be paid up to end August 2007. (4) Instalment plan to be revised pending re-schedule of building works. (5) 2 million sponsorship to be invested in endowment fund as opposed to towards capital costs.

Academies: Sponsorship

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his assessment is of the new sponsorship arrangements for academies, with particular reference to co-sponsorship by local authorities; and to what extent academies will remain independent under such arrangements.

Jim Knight: Local authorities are increasingly becoming engaged in the strategic planning and co-sponsorship of academies in their localities within their wider school rebuilding and transformational strategies. The Government welcome this engagement.
	All academies' funding agreements require them to have at least one local authority representative on their governing body, and local authorities acting as co-sponsors will usually have two governors. In order to determine the ethos and leadership of the academy, and ensure clear responsibility and accountability, the private sector or charitable sponsor always appoints the majority of the governors. This is the case even when a local authority is acting as co-sponsor for wider purposes. All academies are run on an independent basis.

Adult Learning Inspectorate Agency: Information Officers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press officers are employed by the Adult Learning Inspectorate Agency.

Jim Knight: As part of the move to a single inspectorate for education, children's services and skills within Ofsted, the Adult Learning Inspectorate ceased to operate on 1 April 2007.

Building Schools for the Future: Private Finance Initiative

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 91W, on Building Schools for the Future: private finance initiative, whether he plans to use PFI schemes for the procurement of academies.

Jim Knight: The academies building programme is an integral part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. BSF is the Government's 15-year programme to re-build or refurbish every secondary school in England, and comprises a mix of PFI schemes and conventional capital funding. PFI may be used for the procurement of academies where it is proven to provide value for money and clear benefits.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service: Information Officers

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press officers are employed by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Kevin Brennan: This is a matter for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Anthony Douglas, the chief executive, has written to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 26 September 2007:
	I am writing to you in response to the parliamentary question that you recently tabled.
	Cafcass has four staff members in its Communications Team, covering a range of functions. The press office function takes approximately the equivalent of 0.5 to 1 full time member of staff; this work of a press officer is however spread across the whole team.
	A copy of this reply will be placed in the House Library.

Children: Abuse

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the incidence of physical violence against children by parents and carers was in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Government collect data on children who became the subject of a child protection plan. In the past this has also meant being placed on a child protection register, although these arrangements are now being altered. Figures are available for the years ending 31 March 1990 to 2001 under the category of physical injury and for years ending 31 March 2002 to 2007 under the category of physical abuse. This information is provided by local authorities and includes cases of children suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm from parents and carers (though it will also include other cases such as those where parents are unable to protect children from others posing a risk of harm to them). This information is set out in the following tables.
	Up until year ending 31 March 2001 physical injury was recorded and could also be identified in cases where concerns about children included a mix of different categories. After that point, local authorities ceased reporting mixed categories separately so figures from year ending 31 March 2002 onwards are only available for registrations and child protection plans that are attributed to physical abuse as a single category. In the same year, there was also a change to the registration category where physical injury was redefined as physical abuse. As a result of this change in definition, the figures reported in year ending 31 March 2002 onwards for physical abuse may not be wholly comparable to the figures reported for 'physical injury alone' in preceding years.
	
		
			  Table 1: Children who became the subject of a child protection plan( 1 ) as a result of physical abuse during the year ending  31 March 2002 to 2007 
			   Number  Percentage( 2) 
			 2007 5,100 15 
			 2006 5,100 16 
			 2005 5,500 18 
			 2004 5,700 19 
			 2003 5,700 19 
			 2002 5,300 19 
			 (1) A child may be registered more than once during the year. (2) Percentage of children who became the subject of a child protection plan as a direct result of physical abuse. Excludes children who are subject to multiple forms of abuse including physical abuse. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Children who became the subject of a child protection plan( 1)  as a result of physical injury during the year ending 31 March 1990 to 2001 
			   Physical injury alone  Percentage( 2)  Total physical injury( 3)  Percentage( 4) 
			 2001 5,800 22 8,000 30 
			 2000 6,700 23 9,500 32 
			 1999 7,000 23 9,400 31 
			 1998 7,500 25 8,000 33 
			 1997 8,400 29 10,800 38 
			 1996 8,600 30 10,700 38 
			 1995 10,400 34 12,300 40 
			 1994 9,700 34 11,400 40 
			 1993 8,400 34 9,800 40 
			 1992 6,300 26 7,100 29 
			 1991 6,000 21 6,700 24 
			 1990 6,300 24 7,100 26 
			 (1) A child may be registered more than once during the year. (2) Expressed as a percentage of the total children who became the subject of a child protection plan. (3) Includes children who have suffered physical injury in conjunction with other categories of abuse. Children may be counted more than once in these mixed categories. (4) Percentage of children who became the subject of a child protection plan as a result of physical injury alone or in conjunction with other reported forms of abuse.

Children: Databases

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the written statement on 25 July 2007, on the electronic common assessment framework, whether Criminal Records Bureau checks and other checks made to personnel authorised to use the system will also be applied to those who are commissioned to service and maintain the system.

Beverley Hughes: The Government will ensure that the electronic common assessment framework (eCAF) system is secure and that it will comply with stringent Government and international protective security standards. Access to it will be restricted to authorised users, who need to use it as part of their job. There are two types of authorised user: practitioners, who use eCAF to perform their professional roles relating to children; and system administrators, who perform IT-related tasks on the eCAF system itself, or on the data held by eCAF. Both types of user must pass CRB checks and will also be subject to the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS).

Children: Play

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what support his Department gives to the provision of opportunities for play for children.

Kevin Brennan: We recognise fully the benefits of play for children and we continue to take steps to support and promote the provision of opportunities for play. For example, from September 2008, it will be mandatory for all schools and early years providers in Ofsted registered settings to follow the Early Years Foundation Stagea play-based approach to supporting and improving the wellbeing and development of children from birth to age five. Extended schools will offer additional opportunities for safe, supervised play out of normal school hours. Aiming High for Young People published in July 2007 will support a major expansion of positive activities for young people over the next 10 years. The Department new has joint policy responsibility for play with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and will work closely with that Department and with Communities and Local Government and other Departments to build on the Government's support for play outlined in the Time for Play document published by DCMS in 2006. As a first step, the Minister for Sport and I will meet Play England later this month.

Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the pupil to teacher ratio was in English  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Jim Knight: In January 2006 the overall pupil to teacher ratio in local authority maintained primary schools was 22.0 and 16.6 in secondary schools for English. In January 2007 the provisional figures in primary schools was 21.8 and 16.5 in secondary schools.
	This information is from the Department of Children, Schools and Families school census.
	Academies and city technology colleges are not included in the figures.

Classroom Assistants: Training

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on training teachers' assistants in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: This information is not held centrally as the employment, deployment and training of support staff, including teaching assistants, is a matter for schools and local authorities to determine as their employers.

Departments: Consultants

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department spent on  (a) management consultants and  (b) other external consultants and advisers in each year since 2000; and which of these consultants undertook work for the Department with a total contractual value in excess of 10 million over this period.

Kevin Brennan: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which private consultancy firms  (a) his Department and  (b) agencies which report to his Department engaged in each of the last three years; which programmes or projects each firm worked on; and what the approximate cost to the Department or agency concerned was of each engagement.

Kevin Brennan: This information could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of people employed by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are disabled.

Kevin Brennan: The proportion of people employed in my Department and its agencies who have declared their disability is 5.9 per cent.

Departments: Families

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to support  (a) families and  (b) marriage through his policies; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: We know from evidence that parenting and the quality of adult relationships in families are primary factors in improving children's outcomes; and family and relationship support are an integral part of DCSF family policy and vision. 'Every Parent Matters' and 'Aiming High for Children: Supporting Families' (both published in March 2007) signal our intent to continue to support families through our policies. This has been reinforced by the new Machinery of Government changes putting families in the title of the Department for the first time, moving us beyond arbitrary distinctions between services for children and adults. We are looking at how we should champion families across Government.
	We recognise that the traditional family structure has evolved and not all children are born to parents who are married or are raised in a two-parent family, Emerging family policy recognises the personal choices of people in their family lives, and seeks to support and strengthen the relationships they choose to make. We continue to work in partnership with the third sector to deliver our policies and provide high quality services for families.

Departments: Manpower

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many civil servants are working for his Department.

Jim Knight: The Department has 2,800 full-time equivalent staff.

Departments: Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants within his Department's areas of responsibilities in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: The amount spent on overnight accommodation for civil servants in the former Department for Education and Skills for the period July 2006 to June 2007 was 1,046,062.

Departments: Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on his Department's submission to the Pay Review Bodies for 2008 to 2011.

Kevin Brennan: The Department has provided its evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body, covering teachers' pay for the period 2008-11, and this is currently being considered by the Review Body. In addition, the Department has also provided evidence jointly with its social partners, representing teacher unions, associations and employers. Both sets of evidence are available at the following link:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/pay.

Departments: Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the total cost was of performance related pay in  (a) his Department and  (b) schools in each year since 1990-91; how much it is expected to be in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department was created in June 2007 and will award all salaries on a performance related basis in 2008. Since 1995, when the predecessor Departments received delegated pay responsibility, all salaries have been fully performance related. The staffing levels and paybills for each year are published in the annual departmental reports available in the House of Commons Library.
	It is not possible to estimate the cost of performance related pay in schools. Teachers undergo an annual review of performance which contributes to decisions that may be made by their school/employer about their progression on the pay scale or spine range for their grade. Non-teaching school staff are paid under local arrangements with varying discretions to recognise performance.

Departments: Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions; and what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to encourage more people to make such contributions.

Kevin Brennan: 199 members of staff in the Department for Children, Schools and Families (6.9 per cent. of the total number of staff employed by the Department) currently make additional voluntary pension contributions through deductions from their pay.
	Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the civil service pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

Departments: Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to which periodicals his Department subscribes.

Kevin Brennan: A list of periodicals subscribed to by the DCSF is shown in the following list. Individual teams within DCSF have the option to subscribe to periodicals if they wish, but to extract this information would involve disproportionate cost.
	 List of periodicals subscribed to by DCSF Library
	Accountancy
	ACE Bulletin (Advisory Centre for Education)
	Adults Learning
	American Economic Review
	American Journal of Sociology
	Autlook (previously called: AUT Bulletin)
	Basic Skills Bulletin
	Bookseller
	British Education Index
	British Educational Research Journal
	British Journal of Educational Psychology
	British Journal of Educational Studies
	British Journal of Educational Technology
	British Journal of Psychology
	British Journal of Sociology
	British Journal of Sociology of Education
	British Journal of Special Education
	Broadsheet (City and Guilds of London Institute) website
	Bulletpoint
	Cambio 16
	Cambridge Journal of Economics
	Campaigns Newsletter (Child Poverty Action Group)
	Case Notes (formerly: Parents and Schools)
	Catholic Herald (website)
	CBI Industrial Trends Survey
	CEDEFOP Info
	Centrepiece
	Child Abuse Review
	Child: Care, Health and Development
	Child Education
	Children and Society
	Children Now (website)
	Choice
	Church Times
	CJM (Criminal Justice Matters)
	Community Care (website)
	Computer Education
	Computer Weekly (website)
	Computing (website)
	Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Journal (formerly: Counselling)
	Current Sociology
	Curriculum Journal
	Deafness and Education International
	Disability Now
	Dot Net (.Net)
	Drug Link
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	E-Learning Today (formerly Interactive: Managing ICT in Schools)
	Early Childhood Research and Practice
	Early Education
	Early Years Educator: EYE
	Econometrics Journal
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	Economic and Labour Market Review (formerly Economic Trends)
	Economics of Education Review
	Economist
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	European Journal of Special Needs Education
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	Evaluation
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	Evidence and Policy: A journal of Research Debate and Practice
	Exceptional Children
	L'Express
	Forum for Promoting 3-19 Education
	Government Computing
	Lords Hansard
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	Harvard Business Review
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	IDS Employment Law Brief
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	Improving Schools
	Information Today
	Information World Review
	Interactive: Managing ICT in Schools (see E-Learning Today)
	International Financial Statistics (IMF)
	International Journal of Early Years Education
	International Journal of Social Research Methodology
	International Labour Review
	IRS Employment Review (formerly: Industrial Relations Review and Report)
	Journal of Communication Management
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	Journal of Economic Literature
	Journal of Economic Perspectives
	Journal of Education and Work (formerly: British Journal of Education and Work)
	Journal of Education Policy
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	Junior Education
	KM Review
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	Literacy Today
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	Marketing Week
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	Nature
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	Newsweek International
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	Le Point (website)
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	Population Trends
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	Private Eye
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	Project
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	Scientific American (website)
	Sex Education
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	Sociology of Education Abstracts see Educational Research Abstracts
	Special Children
	The Spectator (website)
	Spectrum
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	Strategic HR Review
	Studies in Higher Education
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	Support for Learning
	Sure Start
	The Teacher
	Teachers magazine (DCSF split into Primary and Secondary from 2001)
	Teaching Thinking
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	Technology in Education
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	Time Magazine
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	Tips and Advice Internet
	Topic see Practical Research in Education
	Training and Employment (French Dimensions)
	Training Journal (formerly Training Officer)
	Tribune
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	Which?
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	Working Brief
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	0-19 Zero 2 Nineteen

Departments: Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent by his Department on newspapers and magazines in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: Newspaper and magazine purchase is recorded under the general heading of Books and Newspapers.
	Details of expenditure on books, newspapers and magazines incurred by the Department over the last financial year are as follows;
	2006-07: 166,000

Departments: Public Transport

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what incentives he has considered to encourage staff in his Department to use public transport.

Kevin Brennan: The main incentive the Department offers are interest-free loans for season tickets for travel to work. Use of public transport is encouraged by departmental policies including limited car parking, free cycle parking with showers available for staff to use before starting work, flexible working, using public transport during the course of travel and making use of travel websites and information services, such as Transport Direct. Staff are also informed about local transport initiatives and promotions. Where the location or nature of the work makes public transport use impractical for staff, car sharing and the use of low emission vehicles is encouraged.

Departments: Redundancy Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent by his Department on redundancy payments in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: There have been no compulsory redundancies in the period.

Departments: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent by his Department on staff away days in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: The information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department is committed to develop staff to reach their full potential and believe that staff away days and team building exercises are beneficial in helping them achieve that.

Departments: Tribunals

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent by his Department on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: In the 2006-07 financial year my Department spent 46,691 on legal fees in defending employment tribunal cases.

Education: Hearing Impaired

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the amount spent on the education of deaf children in Norfolk in each of the last five years;
	(2)  if he will assess the effectiveness of the process for  (a) the education of deaf children and  (b) the appeal process against allocation decisions.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect information on the amount spent on the education of particular groups of pupils with special educational needs (SEN). However, the following table shows information relating to budgeted expenditure on the education of children with special educational needs in Norfolk since 2003-04:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 42,233,000 
			 2004-05 44,946,000 
			 2005-06 48,604,000 
			 2006-07 51,472,000 
			 2007-08 (1)60,953,000 
			 1 Provisional  Source: Section 52 statements 
		
	
	We do not make a separate assessment of the effectiveness of the education of deaf children. All pupils both with and without SEN are assessed at the end of key stages of learning and pupils with a statement of SEN have their needs reviewed annually. The statutory framework and the SEN code of practice should ensure that all children with special needs have those needs identified and assessed and receive appropriate support. We are currently in discussion with deaf and hearing impairment organisations about school attainment data for this group of pupils.
	We have no plans to review the effectiveness of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST), which provides an independent and impartial appeal process against local authority decisions about the education of children with hearing impairments and other special educational needs. In the tribunal year 2005-06 the tribunal decided 31 cases in which hearing impairment was identified as the children's primary difficulty. The tribunal upheld 20 of 26 cases relating to school placement.
	Under part 4 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), schools must not discriminate against prospective disabled pupils in their admissions arrangements and should make reasonable adjustments to their admissions policies and procedures so that prospective disabled pupils are not disadvantaged by the school's admission arrangements. If a child is refused entry for other reasons, such as the school being full, then they have the same right to appeal as other children.
	Local education appeals panels consider claims of discrimination in relation to admissions to, and permanent exclusions from, local authority maintained schools. SENDIST hears other claims about schools under the DDA.

Education: Voucher Schemes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has made an analysis of the potential use of school vouchers in the primary and secondary school system; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government have not made any analysis of the potential use of school vouchers in the primary and secondary school system.

European Indicators Project

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure full participation in the European Indicators Project by official bodies and UK assessment organisations;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the work under way in the UK in relation to language and social inclusion through the Asset languages programme and UK Languages Ladder initiative  (a) is better known across the European Union and  (b) is taken into consideration as arrangements are made to operationalise the European Indicators Project as agreed by the Council of Ministers in Barcelona (2002).

Jim Knight: The European Indicators Project is going through a competitive tender process, and any official body or UK assessment organisation could have submitted a bid on their own or as part of a consortium. We would expect that whoever wins the tender would work with appropriate organisations with relevant expertise as they develop the project.
	The Languages Ladder/Asset languages scheme offers assessment in 25 languages, including a wide range of community languages. The Languages Ladder levels have been mapped against the Common European Framework.
	The National Director for Languages and the Project Director for the Languages Ladder have made presentations at both Council of Europe and European Union events, promoting the Languages Ladder/Asset languages scheme, and will continue to do so. Cambridge ESOLwho have developed Asset languages qualifications with OCR as part of Cambridge Assessmentare members of the Association of Languages Testers in Europe and have made formal presentations on Asset languages at international conferences. The Languages Ladder and Asset languages also featured as an example of good practice in the VALEUR (Valuing All Languages in Europe) project which looked at language diversity in Europe and opportunities to gain qualifications in community languages.

Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils were entitled to free school meals in each local education authority in 2006-07, ranked from highest to lowest; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information on percentages of pupils entitled to free school meals in each local authority, ranked highest to lowest, in 2006-07 is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  School meal eligibility( 1)  in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools January 2007 (provisional)ranked by local authority area, England 
			  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 1) 
			   Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 Tower Hamlets 52.4 
			 Islington 42.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 42.2 
			 Camden 42.1 
			 Manchester 40.5 
			 Hackney 38.3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 37.7 
			 Lambeth 37.3 
			 Westminster 35.3 
			 Southwark 33.6 
			 Birmingham 33.1 
			 Haringey 32.0 
			 Greenwich 31.0 
			 Liverpool 30.3 
			 Newham 29.5 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 29.1 
			 Salford 28.7 
			 Knowsley 28.1 
			 Wandsworth 27.5 
			 Middlesbrough 27.3 
			 Brent 27.3 
			 Lewisham 26.4 
			 Nottingham 26.4 
			 South Tyneside 25.8 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 25.8 
			 Blackpool 25.3 
			 Enfield 25.2 
			 Waltham Forest 24.7 
			 Wirral 24.6 
			 Barking and Dagenham 24.0 
			 Leicester 23.0 
			 Rochdale 23.0 
			 Ealing 22.6 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 22.3 
			 Luton 22.1 
			 Hounslow 21.6 
			 Oldham 21.4 
			 Hartlepool 21.3 
			 Bristol, City of 21.2 
			 Croydon 21.0 
			 Southampton 20.9 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 20.8 
			 Halton 20.5 
			 Sandwell 20.1 
			 Coventry 20.1 
			 Bradford 20.1 
			 Wolverhampton 19.9 
			 Gateshead 19.8 
			 Walsall 19.6 
			 Sunderland 19.3 
			 St. Helens 19.2 
			 Derby 19.2 
			 Barnet 19.1 
			 North East Lincolnshire 18.9 
			 Leeds 18.7 
			 Durham 18.3 
			 Darlington 18.1 
			 Isle of Wight 18.0 
			 Redbridge 17.8 
			 Telford and Wrekin 17.7 
			 Doncaster 17.7 
			 Rotherham 17.0 
			 Southend-on-Sea 17.0 
			 Barnsley 16.9 
			 Hillingdon 16.8 
			 Sheffield 16.8 
			 Harrow 16.6 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 16.5 
			 Bolton 16.4 
			 Plymouth 16.4 
			 Peterborough 16.4 
			 Tameside 16.3 
			 Slough 16.2 
			 North Tyneside 16.0 
			 Torbay 15.9 
			 Brighton and Hove 15.9 
			 Reading 15.9 
			 Kirklees 15.8 
			 Portsmouth 15.8 
			 Dudley 15.7 
			 Wakefield 15.6 
			 Sefton 15.0 
			 Calderdale 14.8 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 14.8 
			 Wigan 14.6 
			 Bury 14.2 
			 Thurrock 13.7 
			 Norfolk 13.3 
			 North Lincolnshire 13.2 
			 Milton Keynes 13.1 
			 Lancashire 13.0 
			 Sutton 12.8 
			 Medway 12.8 
			 Cumbria 12.4 
			 Derbyshire 12.0 
			 Merton 11.9 
			 Nottinghamshire 11.9 
			 Northumberland 11.7 
			 Bromley 11.7 
			 Havering 11.3 
			 East Sussex 11.1 
			 Stockport 11.1 
			 Kent 11.1 
			 Solihull 11.0 
			 Cornwall 10.9 
			 Bexley 10.9 
			 Trafford 10.7 
			 Bedfordshire 10.5 
			 North Somerset 10.4 
			 Bournemouth 10.3 
			 Cheshire 10.2 
			 Suffolk 10.1 
			 Staffordshire 10.1 
			 Essex 9.9 
			 York 9.7 
			 Swindon 9.7 
			 Warwickshire 9.7 
			 Devon 9.6 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 9.5 
			 Warrington 9.5 
			 Gloucestershire 9.4 
			 Worcestershire 9.1 
			 Cambridgeshire 9.0 
			 Oxfordshire 9.0 
			 Shropshire 8.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 8.8 
			 Hampshire 8.6 
			 Richmond upon Thames 8.5 
			 Somerset 8.1 
			 Hertfordshire 8.0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 8.0 
			 North Yorkshire 7.9 
			 Surrey 7.4 
			 South Gloucestershire 7.4 
			 Lincolnshire 7.3 
			 West Berkshire 7.3 
			 Herefordshire 7.2 
			 Leicestershire 7.2 
			 Northamptonshire 7.2 
			 Wiltshire 6.7 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 6.6 
			 Bracknell Forest 6.5 
			 Poole 5.4 
			 West Sussex 5.2 
			 Dorset 4.9 
			 Buckinghamshire 4.9 
			 Rutland 4.5 
			 Wokingham 4.3 
			 Isles of Scilly x 
			 City of London(4) n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools( 2) 
			   Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals 
			 Tower Hamlets 58.8 
			 Islington 41.4 
			 Newham 39.2 
			 Manchester 38.6 
			 Lambeth 37.4 
			 Hackney 37.3 
			 Haringey 33.8 
			 Camden 33.4 
			 Knowsley 33.3 
			 Birmingham 31.9 
			 Southwark 31.9 
			 Middlesbrough 31.8 
			 Westminster 29.7 
			 Greenwich 28.1 
			 Nottingham 27.9 
			 Liverpool 27.8 
			 Barking and Dagenham 27.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 26.6 
			 Lewisham 25.7 
			 Ealing 25.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 25.3 
			 Waltham Forest 24.8 
			 Wandsworth 24.0 
			 Bradford 23.7 
			 Rochdale 23.4 
			 Salford 23.3 
			 South Tyneside 23.1 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 22.7 
			 Brent 22.6 
			 Wirral 22.0 
			 Leicester 21.7 
			 Blackpool 21.4 
			 Luton 21.3 
			 Sandwell 20.3 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 20.2 
			 Oldham 20.0 
			 Enfield 19.7 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 19.2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 19.2 
			 Harrow 19.2 
			 Wolverhampton 18.9 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 18.9 
			 Hartlepool 18.5 
			 Croydon 18.4 
			 Hounslow 18.3 
			 Halton 18.1 
			 Bristol, City of 17.1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 17.0 
			 St. Helens 16.9 
			 Gateshead 16.9 
			 Coventry 16.9 
			 Hillingdon 16.8 
			 Tameside 16.8 
			 Walsall 16.8 
			 Southampton 16.3 
			 Barnsley 16.2 
			 North East Lincolnshire 16.0 
			 Redbridge 16.0 
			 Leeds 16.0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 15.8 
			 Richmond upon Thames 15.6 
			 Derby 15.6 
			 Peterborough 15.6 
			 Durham 15.5 
			 Kirklees 15.5 
			 Dudley 15.3 
			 Barnet 15.0 
			 Isle of Wight 15.0 
			 Brighton and Hove 14.8 
			 Bolton 14.8 
			 Portsmouth 14.7 
			 Rotherham 14.6 
			 Sefton 14.5 
			 Sheffield 14.3 
			 Sunderland 13.9 
			 Darlington 13.8 
			 Doncaster 13.8 
			 Bury 13.6 
			 Slough 13.5 
			 Wigan 13.3 
			 Wakefield 12.8 
			 Calderdale 12.4 
			 Merton 12.2 
			 Torbay 11.7 
			 Milton Keynes 11.7 
			 Lancashire 11.6 
			 Reading 11.4 
			 Nottinghamshire 11.4 
			 Stockport 11.3 
			 Plymouth 11.2 
			 North Lincolnshire 11.1 
			 North Tyneside 11.0 
			 Thurrock 10.7 
			 Southend-on-Sea 10.7 
			 Cumbria 10.2 
			 Northumberland 10.1 
			 Solihull 10.1 
			 Bournemouth 10.0 
			 Norfolk 10.0 
			 East Sussex 9.7 
			 Bromley 9.6 
			 Cornwall 9.4 
			 Havering 9.4 
			 Medway 9.1 
			 Derbyshire 9.1 
			 Trafford 8.7 
			 Bedfordshire 8.7 
			 North Somerset 8.5 
			 Suffolk 8.4 
			 Swindon 8.4 
			 Bexley 8.1 
			 Worcestershire 8.0 
			 Devon 8.0 
			 Cheshire 8.0 
			 York 8.0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 7.9 
			 Kent 7.9 
			 Essex 7.8 
			 Staffordshire 7.7 
			 Somerset 7.6 
			 Herefordshire 7.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 7.4 
			 Oxfordshire 7.3 
			 Warrington 7.3 
			 Sutton 7.2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 7.2 
			 Shropshire 6.0 
			 Warwickshire 6.8 
			 Lincolnshire 6.5 
			 Hertfordshire 6.4 
			 Hampshire 6.4 
			 Gloucestershire 6.4 
			 South Gloucestershire 8.1 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 6.0 
			 North Yorkshire 5.9 
			 Dorset 5.9 
			 West Sussex 5.8 
			 Leicestershire 5.5 
			 Northamptonshire 5.5 
			 Buckinghamshire 5.4 
			 Surrey 5.4 
			 Poole 5.3 
			 West Berkshire 5.0 
			 Wiltshire 4.8 
			 Wokingham 4.7 
			 Bracknell Forest 4.7 
			 Rutland 4.6 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 4.1 
			 City of London (3) 
			 Isles of Scilly (3) 
			 x = Based on less than three pupils. n/a = Not available. (1) Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils. (2) Includes middle schools as deemed. (3) Not applicable. No schools of this type. (4) There is one maintained primary school in City of London local authority. When the provisional freeze of the school census database was taken this school had not provided its data which means provisional 2007 figures are not available for City of London local authority.  Source: School Census

Further Education: Disadvantaged

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what information his Department collects on the proportion of pupils aged 16 to 18 years in  (a) further education colleges and  (b) school sixth forms from highly deprived groups.

Jim Knight: Information is available using matched administrative data and eligibility for free school meals at age 15 as a proxy for deprivation. Of those 16-18 year olds in further education colleges and maintained school sixth forms in 2005/06, 13 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively were eligible for and claiming free school meals at age 15.

Further Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to bring funding levels for 16 to 18-year-olds in further education colleges up to the funding levels in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The LSC has made a series of changes to funding arrangements which have already reduced the gap by 5 per cent. Further work is already in hand that will reduce the gap by a further 3 per cent. from 2008.
	Changes made include increasing college funding rates by 1 per cent. more than school sixth form funding rates in 2004/05 and 2005/06; removing, from 2006/07, in-year adjustment for school sixth forms to bring them into line with college funding arrangements; and, from 2006/07, collecting pupil-level data from school sixth forms on retention and attainment.

GCE A-Level: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of whether absolute A-level standards have changed over the last 20 years, pursuant to the comments of the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: A-levels, like other qualifications, are tightly regulated and standards monitored by the independent Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The Committee on Examination Standards chaired by the Director for Education at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) concluded in 2004 that no examination system at the school or other level is so tightly or carefully managed.
	Claims that A-levels have got easier have been investigated and refuted on numerous occasions since the 1990s, first by Ofsted and then by QCA. It is not possible to make a simple comparison between exam papers from one or two decades ago with papers today: pupils learn different things today because the world is a different place, with employers demanding different skills. The improvements we have seen in success rates at A level are a result of record investment, 30,000 extra teachers, double the number of support staff and billions invested in rebuilding crumbling schools. The further improvements planned for A-level as part of our 14-19 reforms, to be introduced in 2008, will provide further stretch and challenge for the most able pupils and ensure A-levels remain robust qualifications that are respected internationally. Success at A-level today is no less demanding than it was in the past.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will set a target for 80 per cent. of pupils to pass five or more GCSEs at A-C grade by 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Standards in secondary schools have risen dramatically. 2007 data are not yet available but in 2006 58.5 per cent. of pupils achieved five good GCSEsan increase of 13.4 percentage points since 1997. Over 86,000 more pupils achieved five good GCSEs last year compared with 1997 and 62,000 more achieved five good GCSEs including English and maths compared with 1997. We are on track to meet the 2008 target of 60 per cent. of pupils achieving five good GCSEs and we expect that healthy trajectory to continue.
	Targets are an essential part of the Government's commitment to raising educational standards. The existing set of public service agreement (PSA) targets linked to raising attainment covers the period up to 2008. We expect to be announcing shortly a new set of PSA targets for the spending review period up to 2011.

Home Education: General Certificate of Secondary Education

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the proportion of children educated at home who were entered for GCSEs/A-levels in each of the last three years; and what assessment he has made of how their results compared with those educated at school.

Jim Knight: We have not made any estimates of the proportion of children educated at home who were entered for public examinations nor how their results compared with those educated in school.

Literacy: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding  (a) is and  (b) is planned to be made available for initiatives that encourage parents to assist their children in learning to read.

Beverley Hughes: The Department is currently funding Booktrust 8.7 million to deliver Bookstart and 1.22 million to deliver Booktime in 2007-08.
	Bookstart delivers book packs to babies aged between six to nine months, 18 months and three years. By encouraging parents and carers to become more actively involved with their child's learning and development through the sharing of books, Bookstart seeks to improve children's communication, language and literacy skills and to improve children's personal, social and emotional development.
	The new Booktime initiative will enable every child entering a reception class in autumn 2007 to receive a free copy of FunnyBones by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Booktime promotes reading for pleasure and encourages parents and carers to read aloud to their children and help foster a love of reading at this key stage in their child's education and development.
	The new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is responsible for family literacy, language and numeracy which has been a national initiative since 1994. This initiative is designed to enable parents and their children to improve their literacy and numeracy skills together. That Department will be developing a family literacy, language and numeracy programme (with a focus on literacy and numeracy) for parents of children aged 0 to four, based on the early years foundation stage. It will also be developing information packs for use by parents with literacy, language and numeracy skills needs to help them maximise the potential of the free books to be given to five and 11-year-old children in the 2007 autumn term.

Ofsted: Information Officers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press officers are employed by Ofsted.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 17 September 2007:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	The Press Office currently has 5 staff in post: 1 Head of News, 1 Senior Press officer and 3 Press Officers.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Parenting Orders

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parenting orders were issued as a consequence of pupil non-attendance at schools in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department started to collect data regarding parenting orders (in cases of non-attendance and exclusion from school) from September 2004. Between 1 September 2004 and 13 April 2007, local authorities reported 1,183 parenting orders being made by the courts following a prosecution for failing to ensure regular school attendance. The data are collected in period three times a year as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1 September 2004 to 31 December 2004 130 
			 1 January 2005 to 1 April 2005 96 
			 2 April 2005 to 31 July 2005 201 
			 1 August 2005 to 31 December 2005 184 
			 1 January 2006 to 21 April 2006 98 
			 22 April 2006 to 1 September 2006 223 
			 2 September 2006 to 31 December 2006 143 
			 1 January 2007 to 13 April 2007 108 
			 Total number of parenting orders issued 1,183 
		
	
	Additional data on parental responsibility measures are provided at local authority level and are published at:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolattendance/otherinitiatives/Data.cfm

Primary Education: Mathematics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criteria the review of primary and early years mathematics teaching led by Sir Peter Williams will adopt for giving weight to submissions received.

Jim Knight: It will be for Sir Peter Williams to determine what weight he gives to submissions to the review of mathematics teaching in primary schools and early years settings. However, Sir Peter Williams will consider all submissions received and there will be opportunities for a wide range of stakeholders to contribute. Specific focus will be given to those submissions which relate directly to the terms of reference for the review, which are as follows:
	Through examination of the available evidence including international best practice and through engagement with the teaching profession, the Primary Maths Review will consider and make recommendations in the following areas:
	What is the most effective pedagogy of maths teaching in primary schools and early years settings. That consideration should include instructional methodologies, teaching and learning strategies, and lesson designs that are most effective in helping children to progress in their learning.
	What range of provision best supports children across the full ability range, including the most gifted. The highest priority should be given to those who are not progressing fast enough to reach national expectations. The review should specifically make recommendations to inform the development of an early (age 5 to 7) intervention programme for children who are failing to master the basics of numeracyEvery Child Countsas recently announced by the Prime Minister.
	What conceptual and subject knowledge of mathematics should be expected of primary school teachers and early years practitioners, and how should initial teaching training and continuing professional development be improved to secure that knowledge.
	What is the most effective design and sequencing of the mathematics curriculum. Recommendations in this area should inform a future review of the primary curriculum as a whole.
	How should parents and families best be helped to support young children's mathematical development.

Primary Education: Play

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what average length of time per week children at key stage 1 spend on free play.

Jim Knight: We do not collect information on the average length of time per week children at key stage 1 spend on free play.

Private Education: Fees and Charges

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the level of inflation in private sector school fees; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what benchmarking analysis he has conducted of the average level of annual fees for schools in the private sector in England, broken down by  (a) (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools and  (b) (i) boarding and (ii) non-boarding schools in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: As part of the annual school census of independent schools my Department collects information related to the lowest and highest annual fee charged per pupil. We do not project inflation increases in school fees, nor have we undertaken any analysis of the historic level of independent school fees. These fees are a matter for individual schools and are just one of the factors parents consider when looking at which schools meet their particular circumstances.

Pupil Exclusions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many fixed period exclusions there were per pupil in 2005-06.

Jim Knight: The readily available information is given in the table.
	For the 2005-06 school year, information on fixed period exclusions was collected from secondary schools only. For the 2006-07 school year this coverage will extend to primary and special schools.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and special schools( 1,2) : Number of fixed period exclusions by type of schoolEngland, 2003-04 to 2005-06( 3) 
			   2003-04( 3,4)  2004-05( 4)  2005-06( 5) 
			  Primary schools 
			 Number of fixed period exclusions 41,300 43,720 n/a 
			 Percentage of fixed period exclusions(6) 12 11 n/a 
			 Percentage of school population(7) 0.97 1.04 n/a 
			 
			  Secondary schools 
			 Number of fixed period exclusions 288,040 329,680 343,840 
			 Percentage of fixed period exclusions(6) 84 85 n/a 
			 Percentage of school population(7) 8.66 9.94 10.40 
			 
			  Special schools 
			 Number of fixed period exclusions 15,170 16,170 n/a 
			 Percentage of fixed period exclusions(6) 4 4 n/a 
			 Percentage of school population(7) 17.45 18.91 n/a 
			 
			  All schools 
			 Number of fixed period exclusions 344,510 389,560 n/a 
			 Percentage of fixed period exclusions(6) 100 100 n/a 
			 Percentage of school population(7) 4.49 5.12 n/a 
			 n/a = not available (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes maintained special schools. Excludes non-maintained special schools. (3) In 2003-04, information on fixed period exclusions was collected for the first time. (4) Information on fixed period exclusions has been derived from Termly Exclusion Survey returns. (5) For the 2005-06 school year, information on fixed period exclusions from secondary schools was collected via the School Census for the first time (the Termly Exclusions Survey has been discontinued). For exclusions during 2006-07, information on fixed period exclusions will also be collected from primary and special schools. (6) The number of fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number. (7) The number of fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January each year.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts bemuse numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and School Census

Pupil Exclusions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will abolish the right of appeal to local education authorities in respect of pupils who have been permanently excluded from school; how many permanent exclusions were overturned on appeal in each year since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We have no plans to abolish independent exclusion appeal panels. We back head teachers' authority where pupils' behaviour warrants exclusion and have made it clear that, in cases where pupils are very disruptive or violent, appeal panels should not normally overturn head teachers' decisions. But we believe it is right that, in a matter as important as permanent exclusion from school, parents should have a right of appeal. Without that right there would be more court cases, with increased costs to all concerned. The information on the number of appeals determined in favour of the parent/pupil since 1996-97 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of appeals heard  Number of appeals determined in favour of the parent/pupil 
			 1996-97 1,130 230 
			 1997-98 1,010 200 
			 1998-99 960 220 
			 1999-2000 860 320 
			 2000-01 980 310 
			 2001-02 1,060 260 
			 2002-03 990 210 
			 2003-04 1,050 220 
			 2004-05 1,030 220 
			 2005-06 980 240 
			  Source: School Exclusion Appeals Survey

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which 20 secondary schools in England had the  (a) most and  (b) least funding per pupil in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The requested information for 2007-08 is shown in the following tables. Local authorities are responsible for determining the funding of the schools in their area through the local funding formula, in consultation with the Schools Forum. There are also a number of factors which can influence the per pupil funding of a school, including whether the school is about to open or close, its size and age-range. For this reason, additional contextual information has been included.
	
		
			  (a) The 20 secondary schools with highest revenue funding 2007-08 allocated via budget share plus grants per pupil 
			  Local authority name  School name  DfES number  Total budget share plus grants allocated to school ()  Open/closed indicator  Age range  January 2007 pupil count (FTE registered pupils) as reported on S52 
			 Bristol City of Redland Green 4802 30,470 New provision opened 1 September 2006 16 to 19 14 
			 Hertfordshire Yavneh College 4802 10,880 New opened 1 September 2006 11 to 18 93 
			 Tower Hamlets Sir John Cass Foundation and Redcoat Church of England Secondary School 4722 9,290 Open 11 to 18 869 
			 Tower Hamlets Mulberry School for Girls 4242 8,980 Open 11 to 18 1,050 
			 Tower Hamlets Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate Girls School 4726 8,910 Open 11 to 18 728 
			 Somerset Brymore School 5401 8,480 Open 13 to 17 183 
			 Hillingdon Ruislip High School 4023 8,460 New provision opened 1 September 2006 11 to 18 150 
			 Lancashire Hornby High School 4170 8,450 Open 11 to 16 174 
			 Tower Hamlets George Green's School 4505 0,350 Open 11 to 19 1,012 
			 Tower Hamlets Raine's Foundation School 5400 8,330 Open| 11 to 18 730 
			 Brent Cardinal Hinsley Mathematics and Computing College 5407 8,310 Open 11 to 19 465 
			 Lancashire Skerton Community High School 4005 8,200 Open 11 to 10 255 
			 Tower Hamlets Central Foundation Girls' School 4507 7,860 Open 11 to 18 1,158 
			 Hackney The Skinners' Company's School for Girls 4686 7,560 Open but proposed to close 31 August 2010 11 to 18 720 
			 Lancashire City of Preston High School 4004 7,390 Open 11 to 16 418 
			 Tower Hamlets St Paul's Way Community School 4277 7,330 Open 11 to 16 999 
			 Hackney Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England Secondary School Specialist Sports College 4697 7,290 Open 11 to 16 715 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Bishopsgarth School 4106 7,260 Open 11 to 16 484 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Hurlingham and Chelsea Secondary School 4319 7,260 Open 11 to 16 546 
			 Plymouth Parkside Community Technology College 4193 7,250 Open 11 to 16 196 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) The 20 secondary schools with lowest revenue funding 2007-08 allocated via budget share plus grants per pupil 
			  Local authority name  School name  Df ES Number  Total budget share plus grants allocated to school ()  Open/Closed Indicator  Age Range  January 2007 Pupil Count (FTE registered pupils) as reported on S52 
			 Leicestershire Brockington College 4506 3,340 Open 11 to 14 792 
			 Leicestershire Lutterworth High School 4015 3,360 Open 11 to 14 729 
			 Leicestershire Thomas Estley Community College 4057 3,370 Open 11 to 14 732 
			 Leicestershire Kibworth High School and Community Centre 4055 3,400 Open 11 to 14 7oa 
			 Leicestershire Brookvale High School 4051 3,400 Open 11 to 14 673 
			 Leicestershire Welland Park Community College 4017 3,430 Open 11 to 14 680 
			 Leicestershire Humphrey Perkins High School 4000 3,440 Open 11 to 14 15 
			 Cambridgeshire Soham Village College 5415 3,440 Open 11 to 16 1,337 
			 Leicestershire Ivanhoe College 4028 3,470 Open 11 to 14 881 
			 Cambridgeshire Swavesey Village College 4007 3,480 Open 11 to 16 1,174 
			 Buckinghamshire The Cottesloe School 5407 3,490 Open 11 to 18 1,100 
			 Buckinghamshire John Colet School 4044 3,500 Open 11 to 18 1,018 
			 Hampshire Brookfield Community School and Language College 4136 3,500 Open 11 to 16 1,754 
			 Leicestershire Hastings High School 4020 3,520 Open 11 to 14 522 
			 Hampshire Thomden School 4175 3,530 Open 11 to 10 1,383 
			 Derbyshire John Port School 5405 3,540 Open 11 to 18 2,032 
			 Cambridgeshire Linton Village College 5416 3,540 Open 11 to 16 798 
			 Buckinghamshire Buckingham School 4004 3,540 Open 11 to 18 1,041 
			 Leicestershire Market Bosworth High School and Community College 4016 3,540 Open 11 to 14 614 
			 Leicestershire John Ferneley High School 4044 3,540 Open 11 to 14 570

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish the latest figures for funding per pupil in each English school; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information has been placed in the House Libraries.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if he will take steps to allocate higher levels of funding to school pupils from deprived backgrounds; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his plans to reform deprivation-related funding for schools.

Jim Knight: Funding for local authorities within the Dedicated Schools Grant includes an element for deprivation as detailed in my previous response to the hon. Member's earlier question answered on 26 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1405W.
	A review is currently under way to look at how much funding each local authority is passing on to schools on the basis of deprivation and how this can be improved where necessary. As part of the process Departmental officials will be collecting baseline information regarding the distribution in 2007-08 in order that change can be tracked in future years.

Pupils: Work Experience

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many work experience schemes are run by schools in each  (a) Government region and  (b) local education authority.

Jim Knight: The Department does not routinely collect this information. Each year the vast majority of more than half a million key stage 4 (14-16) pupils in all areas go on work experience placements. Work experience is the single biggest, co-ordinated partnership between employers and schools. Surveys show that work experience is valued by employers, schools andmost importantlylearners. Ofsted reported that four out of five pupils are positive about their work experience, and that three quarters of placements are well matched to pupils' interests and capabilities.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press officers are employed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority employs three full-time and three part-time press officers.

School Leaving

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will break down the public cost of raising the education leaving age to 18 years by main subheading.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 17 July 2007,  Official Report, column 303W, in which the estimated costs of raising the participation age are set out by main category. The estimated costs of raising the participation age are also set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published alongside the Green Paper on 22 March. This can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/RIA%20[FINAL]%20word%20version.pdf

School Leaving

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on phasing the raising of the education leaving age to 18; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We said in the Green Paper Rising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16, published in March, that we propose to introduce a new requirement for young people to participate in education or training post-16 in a phased way, moving first to a requirement to participate until age 17, before subsequently requiring participation until 18. We judge that the best moment to raise the participation age to 17 would be 2013, and we would then propose to raise the participate age to 18 in 2015.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools provide a school meals service; what estimate he has made of the number of pupils eating school meals; what assessment he has made of the financial viability of the school meals service in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not collect this information. However, the School Food Trust's (SFT) second annual survey of take-up of school meals in England (published in September 2007), which is based on responses from 104 local authorities, reports that, in 2006-07, 90.7 per cent. of primary schools and 57.6 per cent. of secondary schools offered school lunches; and that 41 per cent. of primary pupils and 38 per cent. of secondary pupils ate school lunches.
	In addition, the Local Authority Caterers Association's (LACA) 'National School Meals Survey 2007' which is based on responses from 94 LACA member authorities, reports that 65 per cent. of local authority caterers forecast a deficit on 2006-07 trading; and that 51 per cent. forecast a deficit on 2007-08 trading.
	Increasing take-up of school lunches is a priority for my Department and for the SFT.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if he will list the planned changes to school meal standards in England in each year from 2007 to 2011; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many school lunches were served in England in each year from 1996-97 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the Government's progress towards their target of increased take-up of school meals.

Kevin Brennan: Standards for school food are being introduced to the following timetable:
	September 2006: food-based standards for school lunches;
	September 2007: food-based standards for all food provided in schools;
	September 2008: nutrient-based standards for school lunches in primary schools; and
	September 2009: nutrient-based standards for school lunches in secondary schools.
	This Department does not collect information on the number of school lunches served annually. However, the National Audit Office report, 'Smarter food procurement in the public sector', published in March 2006, stated that the number of meals served annually was 617 million.
	The School Food Trust (SFT) recently published its second annual survey of take-up of school meals in England. This showed that, between 2005-06 and 2006-07, school lunch take-up fell by one percentage point in primary schools (from 42.3 per cent. to 41.3 per cent.) and by five percentage points in secondary schools (from 42.7 per cent. to 37.7 per cent.).
	The SFT has a target to increase take-up of school lunches, from the 2008-06 baseline, by four percentage points by March 2008; and by 10 percentage points by the end of 2009.
	Increasing take-up of school lunches is a priority for my Department and for the SFT.

Schools

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have been opened since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: The number of maintained mainstream schools opened in since 1997, broken down by local authority, is given in the following table.
	New schools can be established for a number of reasons including: to meet population growth; to replace schools that are amalgamating; as a Fresh Start school to replace a school in special measures; as a school with a religious character to replace a school without a religious character; or as part of another type of local reorganisation.
	It was not mandatory to supply school opening dates prior to January 2002 and therefore the figures for these years may not be complete.
	
		
			   Open date 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  Grand total 
			 Barking and Dagenham  2 1   1  4 
			 Barnet  2 1  2   2 2 1 2 12 
			 Barnsley 3  3  33 1  13 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 12 1 1 5 
			 Bedfordshire1   1 2 
			 Bexley   1   1 4 28 
			 Birmingham 1 2 4 5 2 1 7 9 3 3  37 
			 Blackburn with Darwen   1 1 1 1  4 
			 Blackpool 1 1   2 1  5 
			 Bolton  2 3 1  1 1 8 
			 Bournemouth 1   1   1 14 
			 Bracknell Forest 1 1  1 1   4 
			 Bradford 1   12 2  1  3 1 1 21 
			 Brent  1  2  1 1  1 1  7 
			 Brighton and Hove   2 24 
			 Bristol City of  9 3 3   1   9 2 27 
			 Bromley  1 1 1   2 16 
			 Buckinghamshire   3  1 31  8 
			 Bury   3 25 
			 Calderdale 1 1  13 
			 Cambridgeshire   2 1 1 3 2 2 1 2 4 18 
			 Camden11 
			 Cheshire 1 2 2 2 1  3 1 4  11 27 
			 Cornwall  1 1   1 1  2 1  7 
			 Coventry 1  1   4 2  1   9 
			 Croydon 1 1 1 2   1 1 1  3 11 
			 Cumbria 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 2   14 
			 Darlington3   2 1 1   7 
			 Derby 1 1 3 1 1   2  1  10 
			 Derbyshire 1  1  1 2 1   1 2 9 
			 Devon 1  1 1   1 1 5  1 11 
			 Doncaster 11 3 3 1 1   10 
			 Dorset 1  2 2 1 1 2 9 
			 Durham  2 1   3 1   5 3 15 
			 Ealing 1 1 2 4 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire  4   1  4 0 
			 East Sussex 12   3 
			 Enfield  1  2   1 1  1 1 7 
			 Essex 3 2 2 8 6 4 4 3 1 1 3 37 
			 Gateshead 2 1  1  2  6 
			 Gloucestershire  2   32 1 1 14 
			 Greenwich 2  1  3 1 1  1  1 10 
			 Hackney 1  1 1  1  2 3 1 1 11 
			 Halton 1   1 3   5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham  2 1   1  4 
			 Hampshire 14 1  1 1 1 1 10 
			 Haringey 1 2 4 4  2  215 
			 Harrow  1   1 1 1 4 
			 Hartlepool 1   1 
			 Havering  1 2  1   4 
			 Herefordshire  1  1 
			 Hertfordshire  2 3 3 2 1 2 1 4 4 1 23 
			 Hillingdon   5 1 2 1  9 
			 Hounslow 5  1 6 
			 Isle of Wight11 
			 Isles of Scilly  1  1 
			 Islington 2 2 3 1   1 9 
			 Kent 4 2 2 2 2 1 3 3 4 3 19 46 
			 Kingston upon Hull City of   2  2 1  5 
			 Kirklees  1   1   2 
			 Knowsley   1   1  2 
			 Lambeth  1 1  1 2  1  1 1 8 
			 Lancashire 1 1 1  1 3  2 1 9  19 
			 Leeds  12  9 3 3 2 20 
			 Leicester  1 1  1   2  2 3 10 
			 Leicestershire1 1   2 
			 Lewisham   1 1 2  1 5 
			 Lincolnshire 1   1  1 1 4 
			 Liverpool 5 7 3 1 5 7 8 4 1 1 1 41 
			 Luton  2 1 1   1 1   2 8 
			 Manchester 1 1 9 2   2   1 2 18 
			 Medway   1  1 1 1  2 1  7 
			 Merton   1   52  8 
			 Middlesbrough  12 3 1 1   8 
			 Milton Keynes 2  3 2 4  2 4 4  1 22 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1 11  3 
			 Newham  1 3 2 1 1 11 10 
			 Norfolk2 1  115 19 
			 North East Lincolnshire   3 1 1  18 14 
			 North Lincolnshire 1  1  1 1 1 5 
			 North Somerset 1  31   1 1 7 
			 North Tyneside 1 1  2 
			 North Yorkshire1   1 2 
			 Northamptonshire 2  1 1 1 4  7 3 1  20 
			 Northumberland1   2 1 2 2  8 
			 Nottingham   1  1 1 1  4  4 12 
			 Nottinghamshire   2 2 24 3 2 3 1 3 3 43 
			 Oldham  1   1 3 1 1   1 8 
			 Oxfordshire   1 1  1 42 9 
			 Peterborough 1   1   1 2 1  3 9 
			 Plymouth  1  1  1   2  1 6 
			 Poole 1   1  1  3 
			 Portsmouth 1  1 2 
			 Reading1 1 1  3 
			 Redbridge 1 2 2 1 11 1 2 20 
			 Redcar and Cleveland   1 1 1  2 1 2 2  10 
			 Richmond upon Thames  2  2 
			 Rochdale 1   1 1 1 2 6 
			 Rotherham   1   1 1 3 
			 Salford 1 1  2 12  1 8 
			 Sandwell 4 2 3 2 2 1 4 18 
			 Sefton1 4 2 1 8 
			 Sheffield  1  2  2 3   5 1 14 
			 Shropshire   1 1 
			 Slough  1  1 1   1  1 1 6 
			 Solihull 1 111 1 5 
			 Somerset 1  1 2 
			 South Gloucestershire   5 1 2   1 1  3 13 
			 South Tyneside 1   1  1 1 3  1 1 9 
			 Southampton2   2   2  6 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1  2 1 2 1 1 8 
			 Southwark 2 1  2   2  1 2 3 13 
			 St. Helens112 
			 Staffordshire   1 2   1 2 3 2  11 
			 Stockport 1  2 1 1   1 2  1 9 
			 Stockton-on-Tees  1 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 14 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1   2 1 1 1 2 1   9 
			 Suffolk 1 1 1 1 2 2  8 
			 Sunderland 2 4  1  1  8 
			 Surrey 1  2 1 2 1 2 3 1 1 1 15 
			 Sutton 2  1 3 
			 Swindon  1 5 4 1  1 2  3 4 21 
			 Tameside 1  21 4 
			 Telford and Wrekin  1   1 1  2 3 4 2 14 
			 Thurrock 12  1  1 2  7 
			 Torbay   1  1   2 
			 Tower Hamlets  1 2  2 1 1 7 
			 Trafford 11 2  4 
			 Wakefield  1   2 1 1 1 1  1 8 
			 Walsall  2 3 2   2  2 2  13 
			 Waltham Forest  1   1 1 3   3 1 10 
			 Wandsworth  1  1   1 1   1 5 
			 Warrington 2 3 11 7 
			 Warwickshire1 2  1 1 1  1 7 
			 West Berkshire   1  2  1 4 
			 West Sussex 2 1 2 1 1   8  2  17 
			 Westminster  2 1 3 
			 Wigan 1   1 1 1  4 
			 Wiltshire 2 1  1 2 2 2  2 4 2 18 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead  1  1 
			 Wirral 1 1   1 1  4 
			 Wokingham   1   1   1 1  4 
			 Wolverhampton  2  1 1   15 
			 Worcestershire  1  1 6   1 1 2 31 43 
			 York   1 2 1 2 1 7 
			 Grand total 76 86 133 124 153 118 126 129 128 138 197 1,408 
			  Source: EduBase

Schools: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  whether he has changed his policy on the promotion of parental choice in relation to schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on greater diversity of school choice for parents and pupils; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We encourage every parent to take an active and informed role in their child's education and choice and diversity is a key driver behind our overarching aim of raising standards. Our policy is to give parents and children a genuine choice between schools that provide a good standard of education and offer a unique ethos and curriculum, so that every child can find a school place in which they are happy and can flourish.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has allocated for a nationwide summer residential programme for school students in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department has provided no funding for a nationwide summer residential programme in 2007. However, the Department has worked with the Big Lottery Fund in delivering its 'Do it 4 Real' summer residential programme since 2003. The Big Lottery Fund allocated 5 million for 'Do it 4 Real' in 2007. From 2008-11, my Department will make a further 15 million available to expand residential activities, building on the success of 'Do it 4 Real'.
	Taking part in residential activity programmes, which take young people out of their immediate surroundings, can provide opportunities for young people to mix with peers from different backgrounds, helping them to understand and appreciate cultural differences, and develop new interests, ambitions and aspirations. In expanding the availability of residential opportunities, building on the success of 'Do it 4 Real', the Government will focus on creating subsidised opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to mix with a wide range of peers.

Schools: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to increase the share of national income spent on education from 2005 levels over the period 2007 to 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Government will increase spending in education as a proportion of GDP from 5.4 per cent. in 2005-06 to 5.6 per cent. in 2010-11. This compares to 4.7 per cent. of GDP spent on education in 1996-97. The exact figures for 2005-06 to 2010-11 are shown in the following table.
	The table also shows total spend on UK education spend by the Government.
	
		
			  UK Government education spend 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Total Government education spend as a proportion of GDP 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 
			 Total UK education spend by Government ( billion) 67.1 71.5 77.4 81.1 84.8 90 
		
	
	Following machinery of government changes, education spend on post-19 further education and skills and higher education is the responsibility of DIUS. My Department will continue to work closely with DIUS in relation to post-19 and higher education spending.

Schools: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether all the incentives created by the 5 per cent. levy on school budget surpluses are in line with the objectives of that policy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what provisional costing he has made in relation to the redistribution of funding through the 5 per cent. levy on school budget surpluses;
	(3)  how many schools he expects to be liable for the 5 per cent. levy on school budget surpluses.

Jim Knight: The Government are taking action to reduce the total level of school balances which stood at 1.6 billion nationally at the end of the financial year 2005-06. We believe it right to ensure that some of this money is used to support the education of today's pupils. We propose therefore to require local authorities to redistribute locally 5 per cent. of all positive revenue balances which, on the basis of 2005-06 figures, would apply to around 20,500 or 90.4 per cent. of all schools. That will encourage these schools to think carefully about the level of their balances and to plan ahead for their use.
	It will be for each local authority in consultation with its Schools Forum to decide how the redistribution will work in their area. Because the redistribution takes place within a local authority it will reward those schools who budget prudently for a small surplus at the end of each financial year, at the expense of those schools who maintain consistently high balances. As the resources will be redistributed there is no overall cost to the school system from this measure and we estimate that a 5 percent. annual redistribution would release around 75 million a year for wider use within schools.

Schools: Inspections

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average  (a) duration and  (b) cost of an Ofsted inspection of a (i) primary and (ii) secondary school was in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 17 September 2007:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	The cost of an inspection is derived from the published inspection tariff, which is closely related to the size of the school. Inspector days are allocated to a school according to the following formula:
	
		
			  Number of pupils on roll  Inspector days in school 
			 0-50 1 
			 50-150 2 
			 150-250 4 
			 250-400 5 
			 400-600 6 
			 600-800 7 
			 800-1,100 8 
			 1,100-1,400 9 
			 1,400+ 10 
		
	
	No inspection involves inspectors being in a school for more than two days. Most inspections involve two days in school, except for very small schools. However the total cost of each inspection includes two extra days for the lead inspector to prepare and write up the inspection. Costs also include the administration of the inspection and quality assurance processes. As a result, the costs of inspection vary according to the size of the school. Some examples are:
	A typical primary school of 241 pupils, with an inspection led by an additional inspector and the report quality assured by HMI, would be 6,018.
	An inspection of a large primary school of 321 pupils, led by an HMI, would cost in the region of 8.704.
	Most secondary school inspections are led by HMI. The cost of inspecting a small secondary school of 675 pupils would be 13,067; the cost of inspecting a large school of 1,465 pupils would be 15,645.
	 Higher Achieving Schools
	Up to 30% of all schools are now considered for a reduced tariff inspection (RTI). These are schools which meet pre-defined criteria indicating that they are likely to be good or outstanding overall. In these inspections, one or two inspectors generally spend only one day in school though the inspections still require the two additional days for preparation and writing up of the report.
	The tariff for each inspection is as follows:
	
		
			   Inspector days in school 
			 1-899 pupils on roll 1 
			 900+ pupils on roll 2 
			 Split-site school 2 
			 Unit for pupils with special educational needs 2 
		
	
	An RTI inspection in a typical primary school with 259 pupils would cost approximately 3,376 including quality assurance by an HMI. Most of these inspections in primary schools cost between 3,300 and 3,800.
	The majority of reduced tariff inspections in secondary schools cost between 4,000 and 5,000. These figures are based on costs in the current financial year 2007/08.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have been placed in special measures since 1996; and how many of these have been in special measures for  (a) less than one year,  (b) more than one year,  (c) more than two years,  (d) more than three years,  (e) more than four years,  (f) more than five years and  (g) more than six years.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 25 September 2007: 
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	The numbers of schools placed in special measures from 1996-97 to 2005-06 are shown in the following table. The table also shows the length of time that schools made subject to special measures in each year remained in the category. The data are based on academic years.
	
		
			  Number of schools( 1)  placed in, and removed from, special measures between 1996-97and 2005-06( 2) , and those that closed while in this category 
			   1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  Total 
			 Number of schools placed in special measures 214 291 194 230 137 129 160 213 103 164 1,835 
			 
			 Number of schools that had been in special measures for:
			 less than one year  2 2 4 2 2 3 5 2 10 32 
			 more than one year 187 249 168 210 114 112 135 182 91 71 1,519 
			 more than two years 93 109 72 91 47 40 40 52 11  555 
			 more than three years 14 I8 12 24 4 5 582 
			 more than four years 2 5 4 8   120 
			 more than five years 1  2 1   4 
			 more than six years   11 
			 
			 Number of schools that dosed while in special measures 27 40 24 16 21 15 22 26 7 16 214 
			 
			 Number of schools still in special measures 3 67 70 
			 (1) This figure includes nursery schools primary schools, secondary schools, special schools and pupil referral units. Of the total number of schools in the table, 54 have been in special measures more than once. (2) Details of the number of schools placed in special measures in 2006-07 will be published by Ofsted on 28 September 2007. 
		
	
	In 2005-06, a new inspection framework was introduced. Under the new arrangements, schools are inspected every three years rather than every six years, as was formerly the case. More schools are therefore inspected each year and the increase in the number of schools made subject to special measures in 2005-06 should be viewed in the light of this information.
	Under the section 10 inspection framework, which was in operation before September 2005, schools in special measures were monitored on a termly basis by HMI until they were judged to be providing a satisfactory standard of education. At that stage, Ofsted removed them from the category and published an inspection report. Some remained in special measures for three years or, in a minority of cases, for even longer periods. Ofsted has no power to close such schools but informs the Department for Children, Schools and Families, as well as the relevant local authority, of the progress of all schools in special measures. Since September 2005, Ofsted has continued to monitor the progress of schools in special measures and has reinspected those which have been in the category for two years or more. A few schools have remained in special measures following these inspections.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in special measures in each reporting period since 2003 had come from serious weakness or requiring significant improvement categorisation; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The following table shows the number and proportion of schools that have moved from the serious weaknesses and significant improvement categories to special measures. The significant improvement category was introduced on 1 September 2005 as part of the revised Ofsted inspection framework. No schools were newly placed into the serious weaknesses category after this date.
	
		
			  Academic year  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Number of schools placed in special measures from the serious weaknesses category 51 20 9 2 
			 Number of schools removed from the serious weaknesses category (including closures) 215 142 167 106 
			 Percentage of schools removed from the serious weaknesses category placed in special measures 23.0 14.0 5.0 2.0 
			  
			 Number of schools placed in special measures from the significant improvement category n/a n/a n/a 9 
			 Number of schools removed from the significant improvement category (including closures) n/a n/a n/a 276 
			 Percentage of schools removed from the significant improvement category placed in special measures n/a n/a n/a 3.0 
		
	
	The number and proportion of schools moving from the serious weaknesses category to special measures has reduced considerably since 2003. Ofsted have reinspected the majority of schools that were placed in the significant improvement category during 2005-06 and over 90 per cent. have now been judged to be providing a satisfactory standard of education. The trends in the table suggest that local authorities are increasingly able to prevent such schools falling into more serious failure represented by special measures.

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in special measures have been in such a category for over two years, broken down by date of special measures declaration.

Jim Knight: The following table lists the schools that have been in special measures for more than two years. It also shows the schools' unique reference number, the relevant local authority and the date of the inspection when the school was placed in special measures. The list reflects the position on 1 October 2007.
	
		
			  URN  School name  Local authority  Date of inspection 
			 107228 Usher Street Primary School and Nursery Bradford 10 July 2003(1) 
			 125272 Thomas Knyvet College (previously Ash Technology College) Surrey 3 March 2005 
			 107774 Birkdale High School Kirklees 30 June 2005 
			 117781 Berkeley Junior School North Lincolnshire 7 July 2005 
			 (1) Re-inspected November 2005 
		
	
	These schools represent only 1.6 per cent. of the schools currently in special measures and 0.02 per cent. of all schools. On average schools are spending less time in this Ofsted category. For example, primary schools are now spending an average of 16 months in special measures compared to 23 months in 1997. The equivalent figures for secondary show a reduction from 28 to 22 months.
	Building on this progress, the Department's reforms to tackle failing schools in the Education and Inspections Act 2006 demand radical action from the school and local authority with a clear expectation that schools are turned around rapidly.

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on the relationship between school standards and structural reforms; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Raising standards in education and narrowing the attainment gap are key priorities for the Department. Structural reforms, whether through changes in schools governance, partnering schools with business, HE or FE stakeholders, or greater collaboration between schools, can have an important role to play in tackling those priorities. Please refer to my reply dated 16 July 2007 PQ 149939, which provides more details about the links between structural reforms and school standards.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what consideration was given to the teaching of lessons in  (a) child care and  (b) parenting skills in the development of the new curriculum for secondary schools.

Jim Knight: holding answer 24 July 2007
	There has always been scope for including lessons on child care and parenting skills within Personal, Social and Health Education and this remains true in the new curriculum for secondary schools.
	For example, discussion of the roles and responsibilities of parents, carers and children in families is included in aspects of both the Personal Well Being and Citizenship programmes of study. In addition, some schools also offer child care and health and social care qualifications to their 14-16 year olds. In 2005-06, 28,816 Key Stage 4 pupils were entered for GCSE examinations in these subjects.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority classifies the new secondary curriculum as  (a) outcomes-based and  (b) child-centred.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority classifies the new secondary curriculum as being the fundamental body of knowledge, skills and understanding to which every pupil has a statutory entitlement up to age 16.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families where the programmes of study for the new secondary curriculum reject  (a) constructivism,  (b) whole language teaching and  (c) fuzzy maths as stated by the Chief Executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in his speech on the launch of the new secondary curriculum.

Jim Knight: The new secondary curriculum programmes of study set out the minimum subject content which must be taught to all pupils. No programme of study makes mention of constructivism. No programme of study requires whole language leaching. No programme of study requires the teaching of fuzzy mathematics.
	Schools will continue to decide how they organise their curriculum, lessons and timetable to meet the requirements of the national curriculum.

Secondary Education: Science

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what experiments were banned in science lessons in secondary schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The science curriculum programmes of study do not list which experiments can and cannot be taught in the classroom. There is however legislation that restricts the kinds of experiments that can be undertaken. For example, under the Specified Risk Material (Amendment) Regulations 1997 bulls' eyes can only be taken from cattle of six months or younger; and under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 (amended 1992 and 2002), benzene and genuine crude oil are banned nationally. The Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services publishes tables of materials which schools can and cannot use in science, and suggests appropriate alternatives. Further information on this can be accessed on the CLEAPSS website at:
	http://www.cleapss.org.uk.

Secondary Education: Teaching Methods

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in secondary schools were taught in classes with  (a) streaming and  (b) setting in each year since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 6 August 2007:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	Although I am unable to answer the particular question you have raised, I have set out in the following tables the data Ofsted has on the proportion of observed lessons in secondary schools from September 1996 to August 2007 which were taught in setted/streamed classes
	The data are based on the use of streaming and setting in lessons observed during inspection. Some explanation of these figures may be helpful. Before September 2005, inspectors were usually informed about how classes were organised by means of pre-inspection documentation, discussion with headteachers or teachers' schemes of work or lesson plans. Under the inspection arrangements at that time, all full-time teachers were observed by inspectors. Since September 2005, the recording of class organisation has been based either on discussions with the headteacher or teacher by reference to the lesson plan at the time of observation. A much smaller number of lessons are observed than would have been seen under the previous inspection framework. Lessons seen may therefore not represent pupil grouping in the school as a whole.
	From 2003-04 the distinction between streaming and setting was removed and instead data recorded on whether the class was mixed ability or setted/streamed.
	Physical education classes have been excluded from the analyses as these are not usually setted for ability in the subject
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	
		
			  September 1996 to August 1997 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 25,307 7 18 
			 Year 8 25,263 8 33 
			 Year 9 25,179 8 40 
			 Year 10 22,758 4 42 
			 Year 7 to 11 35,439 4 38 
			 Total 7 to 11 133,946 6 34 
		
	
	
		
			  September 1997 to August 1998 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 15,080 1 22 
			 Year 8 15,016 10 35 
			 Year 9 15,434 10 43 
			 Year 10 15,690 5 41 
			 Year 11 16,336 5 41 
			 Total 7 to 11 77,556 8 37 
		
	
	
		
			  September 1998 to August 1999 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 20,585 5 21 
			 Year 8 20,057 6 38 
			 Year 9 21,739 7 45 
			 Year 10 22,483 4 41 
			 Year 11 22,663 4 42 
			 Year 7 to 11 107,527 5 38 
		
	
	
		
			  September 1999 to August 2000 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 16,145 5 21 
			 Year 8 15,443 6 37 
			 Year 9 17,457 6 43 
			 Year 10 16,977 3 41 
			 Year 11 17,143 3 42 
			 Total 7 to 11 83,165 5 37 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2000 to August 2001 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 12,929 5 26 
			 Year 8 12,391 6 43 
			 Year 9 14,995 7 48 
			 Year 10 13,622 4 44 
			 Year 11 14,027 3 45 
			 Total 7 to 11 67,964 5 42 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2001 to August 2002 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 11,613 5 27 
			 Year 8 10,643 5 40 
			 Year 9 13,392 6 46 
			 Year 10 12,109 3 41 
			 Year 11 12,796 2 43 
			 Total 7 to 11 60,553 4 40 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2002 to August 2003 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage banded  Percentage setted 
			 Year 7 10,406 5 29 
			 Year 8 9,482 6 41 
			 Year 9 12,259 6 45 
			 Year 10 11,064 3 40 
			 Year 11 12,060 3 42 
			 Total 7 to 11 55,271 4 40 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2003 to August 2004 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the average ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the lower ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the upper ability range within the school 
			 Year 7 12,371 7 11 10 
			 Year 8 11,136 10 15 14 
			 Year 9 14,747 11 15 18 
			 Year 10 12,874 9 13 14 
			 Year 11 14,756 9 13 17 
			 Total 7 to 11 65,884 9 13 15 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2004 to August 2005 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the average ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the lower ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the upper ability range within the school 
			  
			 Year 7 9,351 6 10 9 
			 Year 8 8,320 10 14 15 
			 Year 9 11,572 11 15 18 
			 Year 10 10,125 8 12 14 
			 Year 11 11,897 9 12 15 
			 Year 7 to 11 51,245 9 13 14 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2005 to August 2006 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the average ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the lower ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the upper ability range within the school 
			 Year 7 3,794 8 13 12 
			 Year 8 3,679 11 15 16 
			 Year 9 4,304 13 17 19 
			 Year 10 4,387 11 16 18 
			 Year 11 3,528 13 15 18 
			 Total 7 to 11 19,692 11 15 17 
		
	
	
		
			  September 2006 to August 2007( 1) 
			   All (excluding PE) 
			   Total lessons  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the average ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the lower ability range within the school  Percentage setted or streamed by ability where pupils are within the upper ability range within the school 
			 Year 7 4,152 9 14 11 
			 Year 8 4,160 12 16 16 
			 Year 9 4,519 14 17 20 
			 Year 10 4,766 11 15 17 
			 Year 11 4,110 14 15 16 
			 Total 7 to 11 21,707 12 15 16 
			 (1) These figures are provisional as some data may be missing due to a time lag between the actual inspection and the data entering our database.

Specialist Diplomas: Engineering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools he estimates will offer  (a) the level three engineering diploma and  (b) the full range of additional and specialist learning within the level three engineering diploma.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	By 2013, all schools will be required to offer access to the engineering diploma as part of the new entitlement to all 14 diploma lines, this will include access to the full range of additional and specialist learning, where appropriate. From September 2008, 38 consortia (groups of schools, colleges and work based learning providers) have been approved to offer an estimated 1,500 young people the Advanced Diploma (level 3) in Engineering.

Specialist Diplomas: Engineering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the additional and specialist learning options within the level three diploma in engineering.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	Additional and specialist learning for all diplomas offers a range of vocational and general qualifications to support choice and progression into higher education or employment. In determining the additional and specialist learning options within the level 3 diploma in engineering, the Diploma Development Partnership, awarding bodies and QCA are working very closely with higher education institutions and employers to ensure clear progression routes for young people.
	Physics, Modern Foreign Languages, Electronics, Advertising or Multi-media Software Skills are all examples of some of the choices available for young people studying the Engineering Diploma at level 3. Full details are set out in the Diploma Additional and Specialist Learning Catalogue which is available on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk.

Specialist Diplomas: Engineering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to ensure that the level three diploma in engineering complies with entry requirements for university engineering courses.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The level 3 diploma in engineering has been developed in full consultation with higher education institutions, professional institutions, leading employer representatives and major awarding bodies. Students successfully completing this Engineering Diploma will be well prepared for entry into higher education.

Specialist Schools and Academies Trust: Academies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps are being taken to improve co-operation between academies and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust; and what assessment he has made of those levels of co-operation.

Jim Knight: The Department has no evidence of lack of co-operation between academies and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), and we receive many positive endorsements of the support given by the SSAT from academies.
	Recent reports by the National Audit Office and PricewaterhouseCoopers have commented favourably on the support given to academies by the SSAT.

Specialist Schools and Academies Trust: Information Officers

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press officers are employed by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

Jim Knight: The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is an independent company with charitable status. The Department does not therefore collect information about the detailed composition of its work force.

Sports: Curriculum

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of curriculum time was devoted to  (a) sport,  (b) art,  (c) music and  (d) languages in secondary schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold this information. It is for schools to decide how much curriculum time to devote to each subject in order to fulfil the requirements of the national curriculum.
	Information on the amount of time secondary schools in England devoted to physical education in 2006-07 will be available next month.

Teachers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many teachers are qualified to teach  (a) Mandarin and  (b) Urdu;
	(2)  how many children were on the Child Protection Register in each local authority area in England in each year since 1985-86; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what proportion of the teaching workforce was aged over  (a) 40,  (b) 50,  (c) 55 and  (d) 60 years in each year since 1990-91;
	(4)  what proportion of newly qualified teachers left the profession in each year since 1990-91 to 2006-07; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what  (a) proportion and  (b) number of head teacher posts were vacant in each reporting period since 1996-97;
	(6)  which 10 local authorities had the highest vacancy rates for  (a) teachers and  (b) head teachers in each year since 1996-97 to 2006-07; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what proportion of new  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school teachers had a degree level qualification in each year since 1996-97 to 2006-07;
	(8)  what proportion of school classroom assistants have no GCSE qualifications; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  what proportion of teachers in secondary schools were on long-term sick leave in each year since 1985-86 to 2006-07; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what number and proportion of children in care were educated in state boarding schools in each year from 1996-97 to 2006-07: and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  how many pupils there were in  (a) pupil referral units and  (b) other out-of-school units in each year from 1996 to 2007; and if he will make a statement;
	(12)  what proportion of teachers were  (a) full-time,  (b) part-time,  (c) occasional,  (d) unqualified and  (e) on employment-based routes for each year group and for each year from 1996-97 to 2006-07; and what the equivalent expected figures are for 2007-08;
	(13)  how many unqualified teachers taught in state-funded schools in each year from 1996-97 to 2006-07; how many are expected to teach in such schools in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement;
	(14)  how many pupils in secondary schools were taught by a teacher without specialist educational qualifications in the subject being taught in  (a) physics,  (b) chemistry,  (c) mathematics,  (d) modern foreign languages,  (e) technology and  (f) music in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement;
	(15)  what his latest estimates are of the pupil-teacher ratios in  (a) all secondary schools and  (b) academies; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is either not available or can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on school workforce has been published in SFR15/2007: School Workforce in England (including pupil: teacher ratios and pupil: adult ratios), January 2007 (Provisional), which was released on 26 April 2007, This is available on the Department's website via the following link: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000725/index.shtml and is also available in the Library. This is an annual publication, which includes tables for January 1997 to 2007 on teacher numbers, support staff numbers, teacher vacancies, pupil: teacher ratios (PTRs) and pupil: adult ratios (PARs), teacher ethnicity and teacher sickness absence.
	Information from School Census has been published in SFR 16/2007: Pupil Characteristics and Class Sizes in Maintained Schools in England, January 2007 (Provisional), which was released on 26 April 2007. This is available on the Department's website via the following link: http://www.dfes.gov.uk./rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000726/index.shtml and is also available in the Library. This Statistical First Release (SFR) is based upon information collected in the 2007 School Census. It reports provisional findings for the number of pupils by age, gender, free school meal eligibility, ethnicity, first language and SEN (special education needs) together with a range of class size information. Information on Pupil Referral Units can be found in tables 7 and 8.
	Information on looked after children has been published in volume: Vweb0l 72007: Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2006, which was released on 29 March 2007. This is available on the Department's website via the following link: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000721/index.shtml. This statistical volume provides statistics on children looked after by local authorities. It includes details on overall numbers of looked after children at 31 March, the number of children adopted in 2005-06, the number and qualifications achieved by care leavers in 2005-06 aged 16 and over, the activity of 19-year-old former care leavers, the number of looked after girls who are mothers, information on the distance between home and placement and the method of participation used during the statutory reviews. National table E contains information on the number of looked after children in residential schools.
	Information on children on Child Protection Registers can be found in SFR45/2006: Referrals, Assessments, and Children and Young People on Child Protection Registers, Englandyear ending 31 March 2006, which was published on 16 November 2006. This is available on the Department's website via the following link: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000692/index.shtml and is also available in the Library.

Teachers: Assessments

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 126W, on teachers: assessments 
	(1)  what the unit cost per test taken was in each financial year since 1999-2000;
	(2)  how many of those who successfully passed each test in each year passed on their first attempt;
	(3)  what the highest number of attempts needed was for any successful student to pass  (a) in each year and  (b) for each test;
	(4)  to which part of key stage 4 of the national curriculum the qualified teacher status skills tests equate.

Jim Knight: The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) holds data on the number of skills tests attempted by teacher trainees who successfully passed the tests but not on those taken by trainees who have attempted but have not successfully passed the tests. The available data is collected on an academic, rather than financial year, basis.
	
		
			   Approximate total number of tests sat by those who passed, by academic year  Approximate total cost of running the tests for year, by financial year  Approximate unit cost per test taken by those who passed their tests 
			 2000/01 55,854 5,245,000 93.91 
			 2001/02 94,821 5,972,000 62.98 
			 2002/03 113,044 4,132,000 36.55 
			 2003/04 121,390 5,349,000 44.06 
			 2004/05 142,654 4,722,000 33.10 
			 2005/06 136,559 4,262,000 31.21 
		
	
	The unit cost is higher in the early years because, while fewer trainees sat the tests, the development costs of the scheme are reflected in them.
	The following table shows the number of candidates who passed individual skills tests on their first attempt. This, and further information, is available publicly on the TDA website.
	
		
			  Number of candidates who passed individual QTS skills tests on their first attempt 
			   2000/01  2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Numeracy 18,948 22,519 24,744 27,341 26,964 26,964 
			 Literacy 21,037 22,468 25,353 28,864 26,930 27,438 
			 ICT n/a 23,410 22,765 29,002 25,191 31,418 
		
	
	The 2005/06 cohort data can be found at
	http://www.tda.gov.uk/partners/datasurveys/skillstestsresults.aspx.
	The 2000/01 to 2004/05 cohort data can be found at
	http://www.tda.gov.uk/partners/datasurveys/skillstestsresults.archive.aspx
	The following table shows the highest number of attempts needed by some candidates to pass in each year and for each test. Data prior to 2001 are not available.
	
		
			  Highest number of attempts needed for a successful candidate to pass in each year and in each test 
			   Numeracy  Literacy  ICT 
			 2001 26 19 8 
			 2002 24 18 25 
			 2003 24 25 6 
			 2004 23 13 15 
			 2005 28 20 13 
			 2006 28 19 9 
		
	
	The skills tests are broadly consistent with grade C at key stage 4 of the national curriculum but do not equate to any specific part of it.

Teachers: Elderly

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers over the age of 50 years were awarded full-time teaching contracts in the  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school sector in (i) Leeds and (ii) West Yorkshire in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 September 2007
	The information is not available in the format requested. There are however estimates available which give the number of full-time regular appointments. This information is available at the Government office region level only.
	The following table shows the number of teachers aged 50 or over appointed to full-time regular posts in local authority maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in the Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region and England in each year from 2002-03 to 2004-05, the latest year for which information is available.
	
		
			  Qualified teachers aged 50( 1)  or over taking up full-time regular appointments in local authority maintained schools in the Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region and England 
			   2002-03  2003-04( 2)  2004-05( 2) 
			   Yorkshire and the Humber  England  Yorkshire and the Humber  England  Yorkshire and the Humber  England 
			  Nursery/Primary   
			 Entrants(3) 120 1,280 90 1,200 100 1,240 
			 Movements(4) 190 2,100 210 2,300 230 2,060 
			 Total appointments 310 3,370 300 3,500 330 3,300 
			
			  Secondary   
			 Entrants(3) 160 1,940 150 1,810 150 1,770 
			 Movements(4) 210 2,560 200 2,340 190 2,050 
			 Total appointments 370 4,500 360 4,150 350 3,820 
			 (1) Teachers aged 50 or over by the end of the year in which appointed. (2) Provisional. (3) Entrants include teachers who were not in service in the local authority maintained sector in England at the beginning of the year of appointment. (4) Includes teachers who were in service in the local authority maintained sector in England at the beginning of the year who had taken up an appointment in a different school by the end of the year.  Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and consequently totals may not always equal the sum of the component parts.  Source: Database of Teacher Records

Teachers: Mandarin and Urdu

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what level of qualification teachers will need to teach  (a) Mandarin and  (b) Urdu;
	(2)  how much is planned to be spent on training of  (a) Mandarin and  (b) Urdu teachers in 2007-08;
	(3)  what steps are being taken to recruit speakers of Mandarin and Urdu into the teaching profession;
	(4)  how many new teachers of  (a) Mandarin and  (b) Urdu are expected to be recruited over the next five years;
	(5)  what new languages other than Mandarin and Urdu will be available in schools under the changes to the national curriculum.

Jim Knight: The level of qualification required to teach Mandarin and Urdu will be the same as for any other modem language and teachers will normally have a post A level qualification which will be built upon as part of their training. It is not possible to state how many new teachers of a particular language there will be over the next few years or therefore what the cost of training them will be. While the Government sets the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) a target for the number of training places for modem languages as a whole, it does not specify how this should be split between individual languages. This depends on the demand from schools and local authorities for teachers of a particular language, which will then be reflected in the number of training places offered by providers.
	Following the review of the key stage 3 curriculum (11 to 14-year-olds), schools will be able to offer any major European or world language from September 2008. The new key stage 3 programme of study does not stipulate what languages should be taught, although suggests schools might offer major European or world languages such as Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Urdu. It is a school level decision which languages they teach.

Teachers: Performance Related Pay

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of performance-related pay on  (a) teaching quality and  (b) pupil attainment; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: All teachers undergo an annual review of performance and this contributes to any decisions that may be made about their progression on the pay scale or spine range for their grade, From September 2007 revised performance management arrangements will apply to teachers in England. These will ensure that every year those who manage teachers and head teachers agree objectives appropriate to the individual teacher and at the end of each year the teacher's performance will be assessed against those objectives and associated performance criteria. Our aim is that career progression and financial rewards should go to those who are making the biggest contribution to improving pupil attainment, those who are continually developing their own expertise, and those who are helping to develop expertise in others.

Teachers: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what minimum academic qualifications are required of school  (a) teaching assistants,  (b) technicians,  (c) unqualified teachers and  (d) other school support staff.

Jim Knight: The Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 allow for the following to be employed as unqualified teachers and undertake specified work in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools in England:
	Trainee teachers undertaking employment-based initial teacher training (ITT) who have a first degree or equivalent or have completed a minimum of two years in higher education;
	Until 31 August 2008, those who have successfully undertaken ITT programmes but have not been awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) because they have not passed the skills tests. They will be qualified to first degree or equivalent;
	Overseas trained teachers who have successfully completed a recognised programme of ITT in their home country are allowed to teach as unqualified teachers for four years in maintained schools in England, the four-year period starting on the first day on which they first taught in a maintained school in England;
	Instructors, when there is no qualified or trainee teacher available, providing they have special qualifications or experience relevant to the post; and
	Teaching assistants, technicians and other support staff, for whom there are no minimum academic qualifications to work in a school, providing the head teacher is satisfied the person has the suitability, experience and ability for each post and they work under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher.
	There are no national minimum entry level qualifications for school support staff as it is for head teachers to assess the suitability and experience of individual candidates against specific posts. However, there are a range of qualifications and training routes that teaching assistants, technicians and other support staff can access once employed by a school or local authority. The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) have recently completed a review of the National Occupational Standards for teaching assistants and professional standards for Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) against which teaching assistants and HLTAs can be assessed. In addition, the TDA published a three-year strategy in 2006, Developing people to support learning, to create a framework of standards and qualifications to enable schools to develop the potential of all support staff.

Teachers: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the minimum GCSE requirements to be a teacher are; what they were in each year since 1986-87; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Teachers in maintained and non-maintained special schools in England are required to have undertaken a programme of initial teacher training leading to the award of qualified teacher status (QTS). In order to enter any initial teacher training programme leading to QTS, whether undergraduate, postgraduate or employment-based, applicants must have at least a grade 'C' in GCSE English and mathematics or have reached the equivalent standard; this has been a requirement since before 1986/87.
	This is in addition to the requirement to have a suitable degree qualification.
	Additionally, those training to teach in primary schools will also need a GCSE grade 'C' in a science subject or to have reached the equivalent standard.
	From 1 September 1998, all new entrants to primary courses who were born on or after 1 September 1979 were required to have attained a standard equivalent to a GCSE grade 'C' in a science subject. All trainees recruited to primary initial teacher training on or after 1 October 2006 must have attained a standard equivalent to a GCSE grade 'C' in a science subject regardless of their date of birth.

Teachers: Recruitment

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government are taking in relation to subject areas where there are teacher shortages; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government are committed to improving the supply of well-qualified teachers of shortage subjects and for the past few years has made financial incentives available to encourage people to train as teachers of shortage subjects. In mathematics and science we offer a training bursary of 9,000 to students taking a postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE) and, after successful completion of induction, a golden hello of 5,000. In other shortage subjects including modern languages, technology, music and religious education we offer PGCE students a bursary of 9,000 and a golden hello of 2,500.
	We fund the Training and Development Agency for Schools to advertise for recruitment to particular shortage subjects, to provide help and advice telephone lines to potential teacher trainees, and to run pre-training enhancement courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry to enable people without a degree in the subject, but with post-A-level knowledge, to retrain as specialist teachers in these subjects. We have extended postgraduate teacher training courses to enable providers to offer significant chemistry, physics and mathematics subject knowledge training. The expansion of Teach First also gives high class graduates the opportunity to teach shortage subjects in challenging schools.

Teachers: Special Educational Needs

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of teachers with training in severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Jim Knight: All teachers, as part of their initial teacher training and induction period, must demonstrate that they can differentiate their teaching to meet the needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities, and know how to seek advice from those with specialist knowledge.
	Once qualified, all teachers are expected to discuss their own development needs in performance management reviews, and to address development priorities. This could include strengthening knowledge and understanding of a particular area or aspect of SEN, which could of course include severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties. Such children would normally be provided for in special schools because of the complexity of their needs. It would be for those schools to ensure that staff employed to support them had the necessary knowledge, skills and experience.
	All schools receive a school development grant which they are able to use to support improvements in any aspect of teaching and learning. A wide variety of courses are available covering SEN, ranging from awareness-raising through to in-depth studies leading to specific qualifications. It is, however, a matter for individual teachers and their schools to determine their own particular training and development needs. Local authorities may retain a proportion of this grant, under certain conditions, to provide specific training and development of SEN,
	The Department's published SEN strategy, 'Removing Barriers to Achievement', recognised the importance of training and committed us to work closely with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) to ensure that initial teacher training and programmes of continuing professional development provide a good grounding in core skills and knowledge of SEN. We have commissioned the TDA to carry forward a range of initiatives designed to improve and strengthen the SEN skills and confidence of trained, newly qualified and established teachers. These initiatives are being implemented and evaluated over the period 2005-08 at a cost of approximately 1.1 million.

Training and Development Agency for Schools: Information Officers

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press officers are employed by the Training and Development Agency for Schools.

Jim Knight: There are four press officers working at the Training and Development Agency for Schools.

Vocational Training: Sector Skills Councils

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on sector skills councils' targets to increase diversity.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	Sector Skills Councils have the lead role at the national level to identify the skills employers need and to raise investment in skills. Each SSC is required to produce an employer-led Sector Skills Agreement setting out an action plan to increase skill levels, including an analysis of the diversity of each sector SSCs identify the factors behind the gender, age, ethnicity and disability profiles of their industries. This analysis informs SSC strategies, targets and measures to redress imbalances. SSCs also have a more direct role in encouraging employers to consider recruiting non-traditional sources of labour. For example, the Women and Work Sector Pathways initiative is testing new career and recruitment routes, helping women into sectors and occupations where they are currently under-represented.

Vocational Training: Sector Skills Councils

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how sector skills councils will ensure that young women who want to go into industry can gain entry to apprenticeships and skills training; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply
	,
	A quarter of a million apprentices, of whom 47 per cent. are female, are currently in learning. The number of female apprentices has steadily increased as more apprenticeships have been offered, including in more non-traditional sectors. The Learning and Skills Council has taken action to promote equality and diversity in apprenticeships, including equality-proofed promotional materials to attract apprentices from a wide range of backgrounds.
	An internal review of apprenticeships is taking place to address the strategic challenges of delivering the entitlement to an apprenticeship place for every suitably qualified young person by 2013 and of reaching 400,000 apprenticeships in England by 2020. The review will also address the equality and diversity challenges for apprenticeships set out in recent reports from the Equal Opportunities Commission, Women at Work Commission and the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs. The review concludes in November.

Young People: Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to bring forward proposals to levy fines on 17 and 18-year-olds who are not in education or training; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In the Green Paper Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16 we proposed that, if a young person continued to refuse to participate in education or training, despite the efforts of providers and the local authority to help and support them onto a programme of learning, they could be issued with a new type of civil Order called an Attendance Order, We proposed two options for ensuring that if Attendance Orders are made they are followed: that criminal sanctions could be pursued if the terms of an Attendance Order are breached, or that civil / administrative sanctions could be pursued. We intend to publish further proposals in the autumn.

Young People: Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to bring forward proposals to use criminal sanctions against  (a) parents and  (b) children who do not stay in education in the future to age 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We said in the Green Paper Raising Expectations, on raising the participation age that we would expect parents to encourage and facilitate their child's participation, and that if there is evidence that a parent of a young person is helping them break the law it should be possible to hold them accountable as well. We are considering what appropriate sanctions would be in order to do this effectively, We proposed that if a young person continued to refuse to participate in education or training, despite the efforts of providers and the local authority to help and support them onto a programme of learning, they could be issued with a new type of civil Order called an Attendance Order. This would be initiated by the local authority. We proposed two options for ensuring that if Attendance Orders are made they are followed: that criminal sanctions or civil/administrative sanctions.
	These proposals can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/6965-DfES-Raising%20Expectations%20Green%20Paper.pdf
	We intend to publish further proposals in the autumn.

Young People: Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to bring forward proposals to withhold driving licences from people below the age of 18 years who do not participate in education or training; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We said in the Green Paper 'Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16' that some other countries have withheld driving licenses from young people not participating in education or training and that we would explore whether they may be similar incentives that could work in this country. I will set out more detailed plans in relation to raising the participation age later in the autumn.

Young People: Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what sanctions he plans for children over the age of 16 who fail to attend school or take up training should the education leaving age be raised to 18; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In the Green Paper Raising Expectations: staying in education and training /post-16 we proposed that, if a young person continued to refuse to participate in education or training, despite the efforts of providers and the local authority to help and support them onto a programme of learning, they could be issued with a new type of civil Order called an Attendance Order. The process of issuing an Attendance Order would be initiated by the local authority. We proposed two options for ensuring that if Attendance Orders are made they are followed: that criminal sanctions could be pursued if the terms of an Attendance Order are breached, or that civil/administrative sanctions could be pursued. These proposals can be accessed at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/downloadableDocs/6965-DfES-Raising%20Expectations%20Green%20Paper.pdf
	We intend to publish further proposals in the autumn.

Young People: Public Transport

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what means local authorities have used to finance public transport discount schemes for those aged 18 years and under; and at what cost.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not centrally held as such schemes are offered entirely at an authority's discretion based on their assessment of local need and their overall financial priorities.

Young People: Vocational Guidance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on careers advice for those under 19 years of age in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: In April 2001, responsibility for providing careers advice passed from the Careers Service to the Connexions Service. Connexions provides services to 13 to 19-year-olds and to people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities up to the age of 24. The following table shows the amount of central Government funding allocated to the Connexions Service and the Careers Service in each of the last 10 years. Information on the amount spent on careers advice is not collected centrally. However, an independent study undertaken in 2006 concluded that, on average, around 42 per cent. of a Connexions Partnership's expenditure was on information, advice and guidance.
	
		
			   million 
			   Connexions Partnerships  Careers Services 
			 1998-99  210 
			 1999-2000  223 
			 2000-01  233 
			 2001-02 110 173 
			 2002-03 337 52 
			 2003-04 439  
			 2004-05 458  
			 2005-06 464  
			 2006-07 466  
			 2007-08 467  
			  Note: The figures reflect the staged way in which Connexions was introduced from April 2001.

Young People: Vocational Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that all 16 to 19-year-olds in employment have access to training; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department has a number of initiatives already in place to ensure that 16 to 19-year-olds in employment have access to training.
	Government-funded apprenticeships offer the opportunity for young people to earn as they learn. There are over 200 apprenticeships designed by employers, available to 16 to 19-year-olds in 80 different sectors with 130,000 employers taking part. These apprenticeships give employees the opportunity to learn on the job and also through off the job training.
	Train to Gain gives employers the opportunity to access publicly-funded support to train their low skilled workers. Whilst apprenticeships are the most appropriate route for 16 to 19-year-olds in employment, 19-year-olds are also eligible for funding through Train to Gain. 16 and 17-year-olds who are in employment, and who have not yet attained NVQ level 2 or equivalent, are entitled to reasonable paid time off during normal working hours to study or train for a qualification which will improve their future employment prospects.
	The Department is also piloting Learning Agreements to help 16 and 17-year-olds in employment get back into education and training. Young people will agree personal contracts to return to education or vocational training in return for financial support.
	From 2013, when all young people are required to continue in education or training until the age of 18, we are proposing that where employers are employing a 16 or 17-year-old for more than 20 hours a week and are not providing or arranging accredited training for them, the employer will be required to release the young person from work for a day a week to attend training elsewhere. Where employers want to offer training themselves, we will encourage and support them to do so. We will work with employers to seek flexible and low burden ways for them to get existing good quality training accredited.
	Engagement in learning, and educational attainment, are critical if young people are to achieve good outcomes, and fulfil their potential. Our 14 to 19 reforms will ensure that all young people have the opportunity to choose a learning pathway which suits them and which can be the basis for progression to further learning, higher education and employment. This is essential if our young people are to have the skills they need to compete in our increasingly global economy.
	And our initiatives are having an effect. The number of 16 to 18-year-olds participating in education and training increased to 1.55 million at the end of 2006, the highest number ever. And, the percentage of 19-year-olds achieving at least level 2 was 71.4 in 2006. This is an increase of 5.1 percentage points since 2004.